BERLIN — An animal right's group has called for a ban on wild animals at circuses in Germany, after an Indian elephant veered off its scripted performance and headbutted another elephant into a shocked audience.

The incident occurred when three elephants being ridden by circus performers were concluding their act Wednesday and one suddenly rammed another out of a ring into the crowd.

Peta spokeswoman Yvonne Wuerz told dpa news agency Thursday that wild animals cannot be properly cared for or managed in a circus environment and should be banned.

Circus spokesman frank Keller dismissed the concerns, saying "it was an accident. That happens also unfortunately at the circus."

One audience member suffered minor scrapes in the incident but the circus says he stayed to see the end of the show.