Bernstein Park Zoo

The Bernstein Park Zoo, fomerly located in Monroe, Louisiana, was shut down in 1967 for renovation. It reopened as the Louisiana Purchase Zoo.

A November 1969 news article states the Bernstein Park's elephant died recently. No further information is found regarding the identity or history of this animal. A 1963 news article describes the Elephant House as a "recent development." The 1969 article also references a new elephant is slated to arrive to replace its predesser. Information is only available on two elephants for this facility prior to the discovery of this news article - Michelle and Shirley.

The female Asian elephant Michelle is listed in the North American Regional Studbook for the Asian Elephant with a death date of ~1975. The Murray Hill records compilation lists a more accurate date of July 1974 due to severe arthritis. No further information is available regarding the history of this elephant.

Shirley's history is well-documented from her arrival to the Al G. Kelly-Miller Bros. Circus in 1954 to her eventual retirement to the Louisiana Purchase Zoo in 1977 and relocation to The Elephant Sanctuary in 1999 where she resides to this day.

Shirley w/ keeper Solomon James
Louisiana Purchase Zoo

Further information is sought regarding Michelle and her predecessor.

>> Monroe Morning World 12/29/1963
>> Monroe Star 11/12/1969

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

The Elephant Walk I

"A parade of elephants announces the circus has come to town as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's annual animal walk travels down 9th Avenue North towards the BJCC Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011. The elephants traveled from the Train Yard down Vanderbilt Road to Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard with a team of handlers. Although the weather was cold and rainy, a crowd gathered along the route welcoming the entourage." (The Birmingham News / Michelle Campbell)









>> "Animal Walk," AL.com, 01/25/2011