Candy Hitchcock Collection - Dixie

Ms. Hitchcock has graciously shared rare insight into the beginnings of the elephant program of Zoo Miami (or the Crandon Park Zoo, as it was originally known prior to relocation).

Dixie was the zoo's first elephant and about 20 when I knew her. I used to walk her out to the shade area behind the elephant barn and scratch her back with a rake. She had a huge rubber tire she carried around and we called it her 'baby'. Sadly, she developed arthritis in her front foot/leg from all the years walking on the concrete floor of the barn and was operated on. The surgery was a success but she later died of pneumonia. //Candy Hitchcock

"Hi Ryan, Here is a picture of me with Dixie. I am holding here ‘baby’. Candy"
Courtesy of C Hitchcock

Dallas Zoo - Stumpy

The Dallas Zoo announced the death of one of the five oldest African elephants in the country, 47 year old Stumpy. Stumpy arrived with companion Mama in 2010 for the Dallas Zoo's new Giants of the Savannah exhibit.

Stumpy and Mama, Dallas Zoo
Courtesy of The Dallas Zoo on Facebook

Henry Vilas Zoo 1981

Wayne Jackson, the retired "Wanderin' Elephant Man," recently shared this picture taken at then Henry Vilas Zoo in 1981. He inquired what became of these young elephants.

"Knoxville Zoo worker dies after elephant pushes her into stall"

By Lydia X. McCoy
Knoxville News Sentinel
Posted January 14, 2011 at 6:49 p.m., updated January 15, 2011 at 9:29 a.m.

"Stephanie James loved animals - whether it was the horses she used to take care of as a child, her dog she rescued from being euthanized or the elephants that she cared for daily at the Knoxville Zoo.

"That was her life," her father, Ron James, said by telephone Friday evening. "It was just her goal in life to take care of animals and be around them."

On Friday, Stephanie James, 33, was killed when one of the elephants she was working with pushed her into a stall. James, who had worked at the zoo for two years, died as a result of internal injuries after being rushed to the University of Tennessee Medical Center."

>> http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/jan/14/knoxville-zoo-elephant-keeper-injured/

Ryan and Edie, October 2009.

For Additional "ShowMe Elephants" Articles:
>> Knoxville Zoo

Bandoola (Inquiry for Book Enthusiasts)

'Bandoola' was written by J.H. Williams and published in 1952. Mr. Williams also wrote the classics 'Elephant Bill' and 'Big Charlie.' I remember reading Bandoola as a child and believe it was illustrated with heavy black line drawings of both wild and captive Asian elephants in their natural territory. Can anyone confirm if this is the book I recollect with these drawings? The drawings were strong but simple, many featuring large tuskers and females with calves.