Wildlife Safari imports 1979

Wildlife Safari's Spring Newsletter discusses the arrival of African elephants to the Oregon drive-through in the 1970s.

With gratitude to Jesse Golden for sharing, "Wild Times," the newsletter for members of the Wildlife Safari, discusses the beginnings of said park thanks to naturalist and businessman Frank Hart.

In 1972 Frank was able to convince his employer, Walker and Lee, to develop 600 acres in Winston, Oregon. The site was ideal for a large reserve that could display animals from around the world in a natural setting. With rolling hills abundant in foliage and water resources closely resembling African and Asian terrain, a large variety of animal life could be supported. Wildlife Safari opened the next year.
http://www.wildlifesafari.net/cur/documents/Spring2012final4-6-12.pdf

Courtesy of Wild Times, Spring 2013

Franklin Park Zoo - Beba

The Franklin Park Zoo received a female Asian elephant from animal collector and movie star Frank Buck in summer 1947. This animal is only found in one compiled census record five years later. No further information regarding this animal is available at the current time.

Original Franklin Park Zoo elephant building
Courtesy of Mark B, RememberPlain.blogspot.com

Anna Louise

Anna Louise was imported from the Manicaland province of Zimbabwe in 1983 by Frank Thompson of Bradenton, Florida. The young African elephant resided for several years at the Terry Lou Zoo in Scotch Plains, New Jersey before she was relocated to the Folsom Children's Zoo in Lincoln, Nebraska. From there she was purchased by Tom Demry in 1988 where she still resides today.

Tom Demry & Anna Louise, Omaha Shrine Circus, March 2011
Courtesy of James C Hall, Buckles Blog

Franklin Park Zoo - Pat

The Franklin Park Zoo acquired a nine month old, 650 pound baby elephant in March 1952, bringing its herd of Asian elephants to four, joining Beba, Topsy and Jennie.

Courtesy of BostonGlobe.com

Franklin Park Zoo - Beba / Mary, Part II

The story of Beba was unfolded with the purchase of numerous local news articles from the Boston area between 1948 to 1960.
>> www.showmeelephants.com/2011/06/franklin-park-zoo-beba.html

Courtesy of Daily Boston Globe 07/1948

Colchester Zoo - Moto and Toto

IN THE 70S IN SOUTH ENGLAND I HAD THE JOB OF PICKING UP TWO FULL GROWN ELEPHANTS UP, CALLED MOTO AND TOTO FROM COLCHESTER ZOO ? NORTH ENGLAND, AND I HAD TO TAKE THEM BACK TO THE ZOO IN MARGATE KENT, WHO HAD PURCHASED THEM, ANY REFERENCE TO THIS PAIR OF ELEPHANTS. //X CHIPPERFIELDS ELEPHANT KEEPER, PETER

From "The Colchester Express," 1967
Courtesy of Gorotex / ZooChat.com

Petely

A series of photographs taken at the Los Angeles Zoo in California raised question to the identity of the elephant and its handler. Recent commentary by Darryl inform the trainer is Gary Jacobson, current elephant trainer for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus' Center for Elephant Conservation, with his former male Asian elephant Petely.

Los Angeles Zoo, c. 1980s
Courtesy of J Romo

Studbook Mysteries - Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo

In March 1967, the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska, purchased two three year old male African elephants from the International Animal Exchange in Michigan. Amos was returned to the dealer in June 1972; his final story is unknown. 22 year old Paj died at the zoo in May 1986.

The North American Regional Studbook lists Amos as Lost-to-Follow up, or a "documented animal whose current location is unknown."

Records
Amos, African Male, SB 52
1964 - Birth, Africa
1967 - International Animal Exchange, Michigan
03 Mar 1967 - Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
07 Jun 1972 - International Animal Exchange, Michigan
Lost to follow-up

Paj, African Male, SB 53
1964 - Birth, Africa
1966 - International Animal Exchange, Michigan
03 Mar 1967 - Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
28 May 1986 - Death, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska

For Further Information
>> Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo

>> International Animal Exchange

>> Elephants of the Henry Doorly Zoo at ZooChat

The Henry Doorly Zoo relocated their last elephant in March 2011, closing their elephant exhibit and granting the area to white rhinos.
Photo Courtesy of Squidoo.com

Update: 06/25/2015
Further information has surfaced regarding the disposition of Amos. According to his book "You're the Elephant Man," Frank Kinsey Evans picked up two lions and an African male elephant named Amos from the Omaha zoo. The three ton animal was transported in a modified plywood & steel rhino crate on a trailer pulled by pickup. He lost track of what became of Amos after 1976. Upon arrival to Lion Country Safari in Stockbridge, Georgia, the herd of animals was brought to 7 - one young male and four young female African elephants were new imports, in addition to Amos and another female Moja. Another former employee John Newburn remembers Amos from his time in Georgia. Newburn described him as a mild tempered male who spent most of the days following the park ranger around. Amos is still lost to follow-up after 1976.