Lakeside Park Zoo - Judy

A record compilation from the late Murray Hill's Animal Education, Protection & Information Foundation shares names of many elephants not found elsewhere. One such animal is Judy.

The records compilation date in April 1964 the young bull, about three years old, at Lake Side Park Zoo in Jefferson, Ohio. Jefferson, a small village with a current population of about 3,000, is located in the uppermost northeast corner of Ohio. No further information can be found regarding a zoo facility in this location.

Water For Elephants

Hi - This is our response to the animal rights extremist video that is going around. Feel free to pass it on. ~Kari

We are so disappointed that the wonderful opportunity presented by Tai's role in "Water for Elephants" to raise awareness and funds for elephant conservation and Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) is being exploited by animal rights extremist groups.

We are unwavering in our commitment to elephants. We stand by our care and training methods. We are proud of our contributions to elephant welfare and conservation.

Animal rights extremist groups are using Tai’s role in Water for Elephants as a vehicle to take advantage of her celebrity to further their efforts to remove elephants and all exotic animals from entertainment. These groups have no basis of knowledge or experience working with elephants. They have an agenda and a history of using less than honest means to achieve their goals.

The video shows heavily edited and very short snippets, obviously taken surreptitiously six years ago, purporting mistreatment of our elephants. If there was truly any abuse going on why wait six minutes, much less six years?

None of the footage being shown was taken during Tai’s training for Water for Elephants. Tai’s celebrity and the popularity of the movie seem to be the motivation for the extremist groups to garner publicity for themselves and their cause. As our work in the movie proves you can make something look like anything to suit your purposes. That is why they call it “movie magic”.

Rest assured that we will continue to provide Tai and all of our elephants with the love and excellent care they deserve.

Gary and Kari Johnson

Have Trunk Will Travel, Inc.

Anna Louise

Anna Louise was imported from the Manicaland province of Zimbabwe in 1983 by Frank Thompson of Bradenton, Florida. The young African elephant resided for several years at the Terry Lou Zoo in Scotch Plains, New Jersey before she was relocated to the Folsom Children's Zoo in Lincoln, Nebraska. From there she was purchased by Tom Demry in 1988 where she still resides today.

Tom Demry & Anna Louise, Omaha Shrine Circus, March 2011
Courtesy of James C Hall, Buckles Blog

Highland Park Zoo - Part I

The Pittsburgh Zoo has a long history of housing and exhibiting Asian elephants prior to their currently successful African elephant breeding program. Unfortunately, very little of this history is recorded in the North American Regional Studbook for the Asian Elephant. Referencing archived news records of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and others, more insight can be found regarding the Highland Park Zoo's early elephant history.

Postcard Press - Toronto Zoo

From Wade Burck's "Circus No-Spin Zone:"

Thursday, June 9, 2011
Toronto Zoo--Year Unknown
Posted by Wade G. Burck

Photographs From the Son - St. Louis Zoo 2011 I

The following photographs were taken on December 26, 2011, a day preceding the St. Louis Zoo's breeding bull Raja's 19th birthday.

Raja, St. Louis Zoo, 12/2011
Courtesy of R Easley