Jardin Zoologico Nacional de Chile

Santiago Zoo, 2010. The upgraded elephant enclosure can be seen at the left.
Photo Courtesy of ThisIsChile.com

Elephant.se previously only displayed two unknown female African elephants at the Jardin Zoologico Nacional de Chile, or the Chile National Zoo in Santiago.

With research performed by ShowMe Elephants, the database has now been updated with more information regarding the zoo's pair of African elephants, Jumbo and Protea. Two past elephants residing at the zoo also have been identified. More details regarding these four animals' history are still sought.

Jumbo and Protea arrived together to Chile in January 1996 as gifts from the government of South Africa. They replaced the zoo's first elephant Fresia. Fresia was acquired from the Rio de Janeiro Zoo in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1940. The Asian elephant died 51 years later in May 1991 of a heart attack; efforts to raise her to her feet were unsuccessful.

An African elephant (name, sex and origin unknown) succumbed in the 1990s after several surgeries performed to remove trash and other debris from its stomach.

It is interesting to note the Santiago Zoo's official website gives the wrong classifcation information for the African elephant. It is listed as Order Artiodactyla and Family Hippopotamidae, rather than Order Proboscidea and Family Elephantidea.

Protea and Jumbo of the Santiago Zoo
Photo Courtesy of Zoologico.cl

For Additional Information
>> "Elefanta Fresia," YouTube.com

>> "Chile Zoo Seen as Unfit for Man or Beast," NYTimes.com, 06/23/1996

>> "Elephant discovers the pitfalls of mating," DeseretNews.com, 09/17/1997

>> "Untamed and Uncut: Electrified Elephant," Animal Planet on YouTube

>> "Chile´s National Zoo still growing after 85 years of history," ThisIsChile.cl, 2010

Records at Elephant.se
>> Fresia at Elephant.se

>> Jumbo at Elephant.se

>> Protea at Elephant.se

>> Unknown at Elephant.se

Update 05/03/2011
"On Showmeelephants, Radar ponders who was responsible for listing the African Elephants on the Santiago Zoo's official web site as Order Artiodactyla and Family Hippopotamidae, rather than Order Proboscidea and Family Elephantidea. I am not sure but probably the same person who decided that "mint" was a more natural color for the horrid elephant building then the mud brown color(they need to dump a pile of rubble on top of it, ala Brookfield.) Probably also the same person who said, "let's try to think of a new, never before used elephant name this time. I know, how about Jumbo?" //Wade Burck

Photos of the elephants and exhibit are also available at the following link.

>> "For Radar--Jumbo and Protea, National Zoo, Santiago Chile," Circus No-Spin Zone, 05/03/2011

George, Tulsa Zoo

The Tulsa Zoo presents a display in their elephant building for news articles, stemming many decades, relating to their elephant program. Through referencing these articles and conversations with elephant personnel, the following information was discovered regarding George, a young male Asian elephant belonging to the institution.

Don Meyer originally purchased the five year old male elephant from Morgan Berry for The Ranch. The Ranch, located in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, was originally a facility for the mentally handicapped. Meyer was responsible for forming a zoo through the organization before founding his own entity, Jo-Don Farms.

The animal's namesake was George Spiedel, director of the Milwaukee Zoo with whom Meyer had worked with as elephant consultant to the institution. The Tulsa Zoo later acquired George by trading to the Ranch Zoo three recently born tiger cubs; the Ranch Zoo planned to sell the animals for fund raising. Don Meyer was attempting to build an elephant breeding program at the Tulsa Zoo with the acquisition of their first male elephant.

At nine and a half years old, George was found dead. A necropsy found internal bleeding near his heart; his body was buried. He had previously mated with Tooma but no pregnancy occurred.

Former Tulsa Zoo elephant exhibit, late-1980s
Photo Courtesy of M Easley

Records
George, Asian Male, SB 594
1968 - Birth, Asia
Unk - Morgan Berry
Unk - Don Meyer
Unk - The Ranch Zoo, Menomonee Falls,
27 Sep 1972 - Tulsa Zoo, Tulsa, Oklahoma
02 May 1977 - Death, Tulsa Zoo, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Picadilly Circus - Joplin MO Tornado Disaster Relief

From Fox4KC.com:

"JOPLIN, Mo.— The Picadilly Circus is in Joplin, Mo. They decided to help with tornado cleanup by using highly trained elephants to move heavy debris. Photojournalist Matt Hensley video essay shows how residents booed and cheered the group's efforts."

"Elephant aides in disaster cleanup efforts"
Courtesy of WCPO.com

Ark in the Park by Mark Rosenthal

"I have recommended the book in the past, for all you folks who love zoo history and Lincoln Park as I do, and bring to your attention that it normally sells for 49.95 hardcover but there are currently 5 available at Amazon for 39.89. It is one of the best books available on the history of an American Zoological Institution and along with our friend Gary Clarke Director Emeritus of the Topeka Zoo's book "Hey Mister, Your Alligator is Loose," I promise you zoo buffs don't have a complete library without these two publications." //Wade Burck