Mindi Scott Collection - Hank

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Pachyderm keeper Mindi Scott has been gracious enough to share some photographs in her collection of her current charges at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio. 23 year old Hank arrived in December 2010 from Riddle's Elephant Sanctuary under advisement of the Species Survival Plan. He replaced the zoo's prior breeding bull, Coco.

Hank, Columbus Zoo, April 2012
Courtesy of M Scott

Hoxie Brothers Circus - Bonnie and Jessie

From Wade Burck's "Circus No-Spin Zone:"

Thursday, May 17, 2012
Unknown elephant 1952
54th Annual National Convention of Zeta Beta Tau, Jewish college fraternity Chicago which had a menagerie set up for guest's to enjoy. Could this elephant have been from the Hawthorn Mellody Zoo? Their elephant at the time was named Jessie.
Posted by Wade G. Burck

Studbook Mysteries - Lincoln Park Zoo

From Wade Burck's "Circus No-Spin Zone:"

Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Vintage Lincoln Park Zoo
This photo taken in 1963 shows Teena being walked around the zoo.
Posted by Wade G. Burck

Mindi Scott Collection - Columbus Zoo

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Pachyderm keeper Mindi Scott has been gracious enough to share some photographs in her collection of her current charges at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio. The first group were taken very recently of three of the zoo's four member Asian elephant herd. Included are 38 year old female Connie, 24 year old female Phoebe and her 2 year old son Beco.

Columbus Zoo, April 2011
Courtesy of M Scott

Bodhi, Columbus Zoo

Bodhi was born in April 2004, the first successful birth at the Columbus Zoo. He was born to Coco and seventeen year old Phoebe, an elephant originally born at the Ramat Gan Zoo in Israel. He has resided at the Columbus Zoo his entire life and is managed in protected contact.

Phoebe and Bodhi, October 2008.
Photo Courtesy of the Columbus Zoo on Facebook

Family History
In May 1993, Charlie Gray imported the pregnant sisters Phoebe and Lilly together from Ramat Gan for the African Lion Safari in Cambridge, Canada. Six year old Phoebe miscarried the calf (sired by her father) in November 1993. Eight year old Lilly gave birth to her calf Piccolo in December 1994 (sired by her full brother Alexander).

In October 1999, Phoebe gave birth to her first successful calf George in Canada, sired by Calvin before his tranfer to Germany in March 2000.

In January 2002, Phoebe was transferred to the Columbus Zoo to build a breeding program. She bred soon after with the zoo's thirty one year old bull Coco and gave birth to Bodhi in April 2004. She bred again and gave birth to Beco in March 2009.

"Swim and Spray," Bodhi and Phoebe, July 2005.
Photo Courtesy of Michelle Leighty

"Bodhi demonstrating to a Canada goose what being a young bull is all about," July 2010.
Photo Courtesy of Harry Peachey

Records
Bodhi, Male Asian, SB 551
16 April 2004 - Birth at Columbus Zoo, Columbus, Ohio

Romeo and Juliette

From Chris Berry:

"This poster from the Ringling-Barnum "Romeo & Juliette" tour seems appropriate today. This one-sheet was used for performances at Cincinnati's Riverfront Coliseum during the spring of 1995."

Romeo and Juliette
Photo Courtesy of Chris Berry

The Births
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus celebrated the birth of two Asian elephants within less than a two week period in the winter of 1992-1993. Juliette, named after Ringling owner Kenneth Feld's daughter, was born at Ringling's elephant breeding compound in Williston, Florida, on December 30, 1992. Eleven days later, Romeo was born, a namesake of the Shakespearean couple.

Both Romeo and Juliette were sired by Gary Jacobson's bull Petely. The half-siblings were the only offspring of the 26 year old bull before his death in June 1992. Juliette was born to first time mother, 14 year old Icky II. Icky II has since given birth to three more female calves. Romeo was born to first time mother, 17 year old Alana. Alana has since given birth to four more calves, all still living and the most recent born in April 2010.

The Tour
The 1994-1995 seasons of the Ringling Blue Unit featured the one year old calves, originally presented by Ted Svertesky and Patricia Zerbini. In early January, however, the Ringling Brothers Circus suffered their most serious train accident in over 100 years after a derailment in Lakeland, Florida. Both Ted and a clown with the show were killed. Patty would present the calves and their mothers for the remainder of the year, but would not return for the following season.

"There were 23 elephants, the most ever carried while indoors but it was a clumsy arrangement. Jimmy Silverlake was in charge of "King Tusk", Graham Chipperfield was there with his three elephants, Patty Zerbini had her elephant "Luke" as well as presenting the two mother cows and their calves "Romeo" and "Juliet" that she and Ted had brought on the show. I handled the remaining fourteen. A large stock pen was erected in the elephant tent so the punks could roam and nurse at their leisure and all four were transported back and forth from the train in a large wagon." //Buckles Woodcock

"During the 8 day lay-off in Orlando, I had the two mother cows "Alana" and "Icky" sent home to Williston along with their stock pen which I replaced with a wooden deck for the punks to stand on. I had just enough time to get them laid down and sat up before we went out on the '95 tour. Most importantly though, we no longer needed the transport wagon since "Romeo" and "Juliet" would now march to the train with their adopted mothers "Siam" and "Calcutta" and see what the world contained beside themselves." //Buckles Woodcock

"They're very, very cute," he said. "Romeo is a very mischievous elephant. He's like a little boy should be. Juliette -- she's a little more timid, a little bit shy."
"They're very, very cute animals. Miniature elephants -- little tiny trunks, tiny tails. . . . They don't have to do anything. All they have to do is just walk around," he said." //Graham Thomas Chipperfield

Current Location
18 year old Romeo now resides at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey's Center for Elephant Conservation, the largest elephant breeding facility in North America. He sired his first calf at age nine in 2003 and his second in April 2006. Ricardo and Mable, both born to mother Shirley, were full F2 generation, implying both their parents were born in captivity. 18 year old Juliette is currently touring as one of the nine elephants with Ringling's Blue Unit.

For Additional Information
>> "2 Performers Die as Ringling Circus Train Derails," NYTimes.com, 01/14/1994

>> "He's the leader of the pachyderms," BaltimoreSun.com, 03/22/1995

>> "RBBB Blue Unit 1994 #1," Buckles Web Log, 07/08/2006

>> "Epilogue/ RBBB Blue Show 1995," Buckles Web Log, 07/08/2006

>> "Petely (Pete)" at Elephant.se

>> "Icky II" at Elephant.se

>> "Alana" at Elephant.se

>> "Juliet (Juliette)" at Elephant.se

>> "Romeo" at Elephant.se

Oklahoma City Zoo Elephant Birth

In celebration of Mother's Day, ShowMe Elephants discusses the first North American elephant birth for 2011.

In December 1998, half sisters Asha and Chandra were sold to the Oklahoma City Zoo. At their new home, they were both transitioned from Free to Protected Contact. In the summer of 2008, both cows were transferred across the state to the Tulsa Zoo on a breeding loan, slated to return by the end of 2010 upon the completion of a new Asia exhibit.

The new Asia exhibit was designed as an 11 acre, $23 million dollar project due to open in 2011. The elephant exhibit will be designed as though entering Thailand and giving the elephants up to six acres of grassland, as opposed to the previous quarter acre of concrete.

A year after arriving, Asha and Chandra were introduced together to Tulsa's 36 year old bull elephant Sneezy in the summer of 2009. After behavioral changes and high hormone levels in bloodwork, Asha was confirmed pregnant when a heartbeat was detected during an ultrasound in October. It was announced to the public in December. Both returned in winter 2010 to adjust to the new habitat before its debut; only Asha returned pregnant, though both cows were observed bred by the male.

The Oklahoma City Zoo debuted their new elephant exhibit on March 11. The $13 million project boasted to be the largest Asian elephant exhibit in the country. It was funded by Oklahoma City sales taxes, except for $665,000 in private donations. Nine and a half acres for the exhibit includes three exhibit yards, a demonstration pavilion and an eight stall barn with a sand floor common area. The new habitat opened just weeks before the expected delivery of the zoo’s first baby elephant.

In mid April, the zoo took both elephants off exhibit while awaiting the birth of Asha’s calf. The expectant mother was kept in the barn’s maternity stall while her sister Chandra stayed in the community stall. 16 year old Asha gave birth to a 304 pound healthy female calf several days later on Friday, April 15.

Asha and calf, Oklahoma City Zoo
AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki - News.Yahoo.com

A large compilation of news articles regarding the Oklahoma City Zoo elephant program and the first birth in the zoo's history, along with a live webcam of the animals can be found at NewsOK.com.

>> "Elephant Nation" at NewsOK.com

Chandra, calf and Asha, Oklahoma City Zoo
AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki - News.Yahoo.com

LE Barnes Circus

Buckles Woodcock has recently posted several series of photographs of the short-lived LE Barnes Circus, owned and operated by wild animal trainer Dave Hoover for a single season in 2001. There was discussion regarding which elephants were featured in the animal-filled show, presented by Louie DelMoral. Casey Cainan shares the three bulls, Minnie, Bunny and Whimpy, were leased from Carson and Barnes Circus based in Hugo, Oklahoma.

LE Barnes Circus, 2001
Courtesy of David Powell

Circus Vargas - 1974

The 1974 Circus Vargas herd featured a herd of nine ( including an African and a male ) in its second year of owning, rather than leasing, elephants.

Colonel, Koora and unknown w/ Wally Ross
Courtesy of Buckles Woodcock

Lakeside Park Zoo - Judy

A record compilation from the late Murray Hill's Animal Education, Protection & Information Foundation shares names of many elephants not found elsewhere. One such animal is Judy.

The records compilation date in April 1964 the young bull, about three years old, at Lake Side Park Zoo in Jefferson, Ohio. Jefferson, a small village with a current population of about 3,000, is located in the uppermost northeast corner of Ohio. No further information can be found regarding a zoo facility in this location.

Asian Elephant Support

Asian Elephant Support is a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supporting the care and conservation of elephants in Asian range countries.

"Our logo is meant to symbolize man's long association with the elephant in most range states and our role in their future. The decorations on the elephant head represent a ceremonial head dress or painting. The dark objects that wrap around the head are human hands signifying that the future of the elephant is in our hands."

Tom Packs Elephants

The Tom Packs Elephants were considered the best trained elephant act of its time. Trained by elephant master Mac MacDonald, they represented the epitome of class and skill throughout the 1950s and into the 1960s. Originally trained as a group of five elephants for the Tom Packs Circus, four of the animals represent part of a larger group imported together in 1948. Another was added during the training period; several years later an elephant was replaced for medical reasons. The focus here is on the Tom Packs group, but will address in some detail their original shipmates as well.

Zoo de Vincennes

From Wade Burck's "Circus No-Spin Zone:"

The Father's Photographs - Kyoto City Zoo

The following photographs were taken in February 1995 at the Kyoto Municipal Zoo. Pictured are two Asian elephants, one with long, thin ivory. Referencing the online elephant databases of Dan Koehl and Jonas Livet and the zoo's own website, two female Asian elephants resided at the zoo during the time period indicated. 24 year old Mito arrived in 1979 and 15 year old Tomo arrived the following year. Only Mito remains at the zoo; Tomo died in April 2001.

Photo 1, Kyoto Zoo, February 1995
Courtesy of M Easley

Bill Prickett Collection - Peoria Shrine Circus

Ryan,
These two photos were were taken at Peoria Shrine Circus, Peoria, Il, 6-96. Corky Plunkett and elephants. Show produced by Plunkett family. James, I believe, later said these elephants were sold to their cousin (?) Bill Swain.

Am looking forward to seeing KM this fall and spending some time visiting with you. I visited on the Litchfield, Il, date in maybe April, but left right after the show due to approaching storm.....and the three hour drive home. Best............Bill Prickett

"Corky Plunkett and elephants, Peoria Shrine Circus, 6-96"
Courtesy of B Prickett

St. Louis Zoo / Audubon Zoo

A fascinating news clip in an August 1977 Circus Report documents the transfer of two elephants from New Orlean's Audubon Park Zoo to the St. Louis Zoo.

Circus Report 08/22/1977, p. 13

Endangered Ark Foundation - Breeding Program

The Carson & Barnes Circus and Endangered Ark Foundation recently celebrated the first birthday of their elephant herd's youngest member, Hugo! The product of natural breeding between 20 year old Tommy and 42 year old Whimpy, his addition brings the total number of males for the facility to four.

Hugo, 08/2011
Courtesy of Carson & Barnes Circus on Facebook

Lowry Park Zoo 1992

The following photographs were taken in summer 1992 at the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida. At the time, the facility exhibited two female Asian elephants, Tillie and Minyak.

Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, Florida 1992
Photo © M Easley

Studbook Mysteries - Seabury

From Wade Burck's "Circus No-Spin Zone:"

Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Vintage Brookfield Zoo Elephants
The photo above is from 1953, elephant unknown, at the Brookfield Childrens Zoo. It is incredible today to think that they used to keep and raise the young elephants in the Children's Zoo. Does anyone know if they actually kept the elephants at the Childrens Zoo, or did the bring them back and forth from the elephant house each morning and night. The sand/dirt walkway around the pen was most likely a path as the animals probably paced along the fence and it prevented the grass from tearing up, and becoming unsightly.
Posted by Wade G. Burck

Susan said...
Based on records I'm guessing this is Melinda, wild born in 1951 and came to Brookfield from Seabury in 1952. She died in October of '53.
Apparently from spring till fall we would keep young elephants at the Children's Zoo - they would return to the Pachyderm House during the winter months. Over the years we had several calves at the Children's Zoo - Winkie, Mame, Babe/Baby Brookfield, Cora/Noel (who lives at the CEC)... There are probably others but record keeping was practically nonexistent back then.
If you look on eBay there are usually postcards of elephants at the Children's Zoo. To the best of my knowledge we did this up until the '70s.

The Father's Photographs - Rio Grande Zoo

The following pictures were taken in April 1994 at the Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At the time indicated, three elephants resided at the zoo - 20 year old year old Asian elephant Alice, her year and a half old daughter Rozie and 32 year old African elephant Tia.

Photo 1, Rio Grande Zoo
Photo Courtesy of M Easley