Moolah Shrine Circus 1992

An assortment of photos of circuses performing in St. Louis have been found in my father's collection. Unfortunately, most are unlabeled and they all are mixed up. An effort is underway to sort the photographs and identify the herds and handlers. St. Louis, Missouri, is the hometown of ShowMe Elephants. It has been fun identifying these sets.

Moolah Shrine Circus, St. Louis, 1992
Courtesy of  M Easley

Studbook Mysteries - Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo

In March 1967, the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska, purchased two three year old male African elephants from the International Animal Exchange in Michigan. Amos was returned to the dealer in June 1972; his final story is unknown. 22 year old Paj died at the zoo in May 1986.

The North American Regional Studbook lists Amos as Lost-to-Follow up, or a "documented animal whose current location is unknown."

Records
Amos, African Male, SB 52
1964 - Birth, Africa
1967 - International Animal Exchange, Michigan
03 Mar 1967 - Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
07 Jun 1972 - International Animal Exchange, Michigan
Lost to follow-up

Paj, African Male, SB 53
1964 - Birth, Africa
1966 - International Animal Exchange, Michigan
03 Mar 1967 - Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska
28 May 1986 - Death, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska

For Further Information
>> Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo

>> International Animal Exchange

>> Elephants of the Henry Doorly Zoo at ZooChat

The Henry Doorly Zoo relocated their last elephant in March 2011, closing their elephant exhibit and granting the area to white rhinos.
Photo Courtesy of Squidoo.com

Update: 06/25/2015
Further information has surfaced regarding the disposition of Amos. According to his book "You're the Elephant Man," Frank Kinsey Evans picked up two lions and an African male elephant named Amos from the Omaha zoo. The three ton animal was transported in a modified plywood & steel rhino crate on a trailer pulled by pickup. He lost track of what became of Amos after 1976. Upon arrival to Lion Country Safari in Stockbridge, Georgia, the herd of animals was brought to 7 - one young male and four young female African elephants were new imports, in addition to Amos and another female Moja. Another former employee John Newburn remembers Amos from his time in Georgia. Newburn described him as a mild tempered male who spent most of the days following the park ranger around. Amos is still lost to follow-up after 1976.

Washington Park Children's Zoo - Indianapolis

Indianapolis' first zoo opened in 1964 and exhibited animals until its closure and subsequent transfer to a new site in 1988. This facility first exhibited Asian elephants, before switching to African elephants. Generally speaking, only a single elephant was exhibited with a few instances of two for short time periods.

"Tumthong, a baby Asiatic elephant born in Laos and shipped here by air, was bought for the Zoo with the pennies, nickels and dimes contributed by thousands of school children."
Courtesy of Circus No-Spin Zone