Erie Zoo - Tom Boy

Wayne Jackson recently submitted a photo to ShowMe Elephants looking to identify the animal and facility. With the help of former Erie Zoo elephant keeper Kris Hopkins, the photo was identified as Shani of the Erie Zoo. A multiple part series featuring the elephant history of the Erie Zoo will begin, with many animals needing further information to complete their stories.

>> "Erie Zoo" at ShowMe Elephants

According to Erie Zoo spokesman Scott Mitchell, former Erie radio personality Barry Grossman once made the profound observation, "Erie people often identify their generation by the elephant at the zoo at the time they were growing up."

Elephant Contraception

According to a news article published yesterday in California, the San Diego Zoo's female elephants "are all on contraception. The advanced age could cause complications during a pregnancy, so the decision was made to put them on contraception."

It was announced in December 2010 that Tina and Jewel, new residents to the Los Angeles Zoo, were also put on contraception if they are later to mix with the zoo's young male Asian elephant, Billy.

Does anyone have more information regarding other elephants in American (or world) zoos that are also on contraception to prevent births?

>> "Sometimes, zoos can have too much of a good thing" by Michael Stetz, SignOnSanDeigo.com, 2011-01-20

>> "Zoo Elephant Contraception" at ZooChat

National Zoo - Dzimbo

In October 1959, the Smithsonian National Zoo of Washington, D.C., received a baby African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a gift to the United States of America from the President of the French Communities of the Congo Republic, Reverend Fulbert Youlou.

Washington, A modern guide to the Nation’s capital; Michael Frome; 1960; Doubleday.
Courtesy of djgagnon.tumblr.com