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| Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, Florida 1992 Photo © M Easley |
Tillie originally arrived to the Lowry Park Zoo in October 1986 from Roman Schmitt at Circus World. The North American Regional Studbook for the Asian Elephant states she was transferred back to Roman, this time to his program at Busch Gardens Tampa in June 1991 ( presumably for breeding purposes ). She returned to Lowry Park in February 1992.
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| Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, Florida 1992 Photo © M Easley |
The exhibit featured in these photographs followed a $14.3 million renovation of the Tampa zoo's elephant facility. Lowry Park's original elephant, a Thailand female named Shena, was acquired in 1960 from Alton Freeman of Miami. News articles from 1964 document 6 year old "Shena" playing together with her 6 year old exhibit mate, a hippo named Eva, at the Fairyland Zoo. In 1984, a temporary home was sought for the 27 year old Shena for a $6 million renovation, but turned down for various reasons by many facilities in Florida ( including zoos in Miami, Jacksonville, Central Florida, Circus World and Busch Gardens ). By summer 1985, a taker was found in Canada, to not only house Shena but to breed her as well - Mike Hackenberger at African Lion Safari. At the Cambridge, Ontario, park ( known as "Gina" ), the former single animal resided with both male and female elephants of both species - African male Samson, African females Sophi, Cathy and Sheba, Asian males Rex and Buke, Asian female Kitty. However, in January 1986, Gina unexpectedly died. With a new ( and empty ), exhibit in Tampa, Tillie was acquired later that year, followed by her 2.5 year old son in February 1988.
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| Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, Florida 1992 Photo © M Easley |
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| Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, Florida 1992 Photo © M Easley |
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| Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, Florida 1992 Photo © M Easley |
The last photograph appears to show either a public viewing platform or a ride platform. Reportedly the Lowry Park Zoo did not offer an in-house ride but rather contracted an individual to offer the service. More information is sought regarding this scenario and the identity of the contractor.
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| Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa, Florida 1992 Photo © M Easley |
On a personal note, these photographs were taken by the author's father during a family vacation in summer 1992. The author can be see in Photo #2 to the left of his younger brother and mother. Photo #6 shows the author's grandfather, namesake of the author's show persona identification "Ryan Holder."
Sources:
>> Spokesman Review 07/02/1964 - http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2KpWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wegDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7274%2C585801
>> Evening Independent 12/14/1984 - http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dekLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-FkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7168%2C3396023
>> Evening Independent 05/06/1985 - http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nbhaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=x1kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2407%2C1406407
>> Elephant Census, Circus Report 02/24/1986
>> "Table 3: Known Births & Deaths Among Captive Elephants in North America Since 1980," Elephant, The Publication of the Elephant Interest Group, Vol 2 No 3, Fall 1987, p.75
>> Herald Journal 08/03/1993 - http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o0goAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GM8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6793%2C2093857
>> Orlando Sentinel 08/24/1993 - http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-08-24/news/9308240336_1_lowry-park-elephants-dickerson-park
>> M Easley, 04/16/2013
From Unity Silverlake:
ReplyDeleteI left the zoo before Minyak's arrival but I was there for Tillie and her son Sabu. I didn't work with them, I was hired by Jo-Don Farms (the same ones that transported MInyak) to work with Ruth a 16 yr old African on the ride. The last picture was the ride platform until the elephants left and then became a viewing platform. Jo-Don Farms also supplied the camel ride while I was there. The part of the elephant barn that you can see facing the public viewing area, was the original barn for Shena. Additional space was added to the barn during the remodeling of the zoo from cages to natural exhibits.
Sabu ended up in Williston as well, can't remember exactly but his name was changed to either Luke or Luther. Sabu was sired by Bimbo, Vanz (not sure on spelling) or Casey. One of that trio that Roman had at Busch at the time.
Only Ruth was there from Don and I know it was there from 1988 through at least 1990. I went on Fisher Bros. in 1990 so after that I am not sure how long it was there, but since there were no photos of Ruth in your article I would have to guess thatthey were pulled out sometime in 1991 or early 1992. I know that they had ride concessions in other zoos, before and during my time with them, including Albequerque, NM and Milwaukee, Wi.
We had a guy named Barry that came to us from Busch after one of the bulls there killed that African-American fellow. Last time I was at the zoo( probably 5 years ago) he was still there but working in the petting zoo. Mark Bachman was another fellow that was in the elephant dept there. A fellow named Conrad Schmidtt (dont believe he was any relation to Roman) ws there as well. Funny how their names came back as I was writing this.
Also, in the second picture, you can't see it, but where the rock formations are, there was a large swimming area that the elephants just loved! Think they turned that into their rhino enclosure, after the elephants left. The new elephant area isn't near the old exhibit. The ride elephant was housed in the old part of the barn (Shena's house) and Tillie and Sabu were housed in the larger, newer add on. Like so many zoos, they had gone to a "hands free" environment, but not sure if that is still the way they are doing it.
Can you tell me what happened to Binti?
ReplyDeleteI am trying to find out which African elephant was at LPZ ca 1975 --1983
I have a photo