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.

"What the Elephants Know"

By Nicholas Hune-Brown
Toronto Life
Posted June 29, 2010 at 8:57 AM

"The Toronto Zoo has lost four elephants in as many years, and the fate of the remaining herd—Iringa, Thika and Toka—is uncertain. Can a one-hectare habitat in the middle of a northern city be any kind of home for exotic animals with complex thoughts and feelings?"


Comments on this article:

"One of the finest articles ever written, going over the intricacies of keeping creatures as magnificient as elephants in captivity… their intelligence, charm, grandeur does not warrants them for the poor life they face while in captivity… no wonder in religions such as hinduism, elephants have been worshiped for decades… hats off to toronto life for publishing this great article… only if humans could learn something from elephants??"
June 29, 2010 at 12:21 pm | by Rahul Kushwah

"Thank you for this thoughtful piece of writing. So much journalism these days seems to pick a side and advance it unrelentingly. In such pieces you can see that the presentation of the facts is skewed by the author’s position and you wonder where the inevitably nuanced and complicated “truth” is underneath the polemic. This makes me all the more appreciative of a piece like this that in my view attempts to take a fair and balanced approach to everyone involved. It is clear that this is a complicated issue with no easy answers. How refreshing to have it presented to us in such an intelligent and forthright manner. More like this please."
July 24, 2010 at 2:22 pm | by Cara Gibbons

>> http://www.torontolife.com/daily/informer/from-print-edition-informer/2010/06/29/what-the-elephants-know/

Toronto Zoo Elephant Herd, Summer 2009
Photo Courtesy of N Daniels

Brian Kohler Collection - Knoxville Zoo

The following photographs were taken at the Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee in September 1994. They are courtesy of Brian Kohler who graciously shares his collection of elephant history with ShowMe Elephants. At the time, the zoo's herd of African elephants was reduced to four elephants from the herd of six featured in yesterday's photo series from 1994. Still residing at the zoo were 17 year old bull Tonka and females 32 year old Mamie, 26 year old Robin and 23 year old Petunia.

"Knoxville Zoo 1996"
Courtesy of B Kohler