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.

Wildlife Safari

The following photograph features the African elephant herd of Wildlife Safari in the early 1990s. A notation on the back, while lacking a date, identifies the young male George as castrated.

A former article at ShowMe Elephants discusses a large import group of elephants to the park from Africa in 1979.

>> http://www.showmeelephants.com/2013/03/wildlife-safari-imports-1979.html

Wildlife Safari
Courtesy of M Easley

African Lion Safari - Brandy

The Hunt Brothers, owners of International Animal Exchange, operated out of Ferndale, Michigan, dealt in an incredible number of elephants. However, their larger animals were transferred through two facilities outside of Michigan - African Lion Safari in Port Clinton, Ohio, and International Wildlife Park / Lion Country Safari in Grand Prairie, Texas. A news article from Toledo documents the shipment of a young elephant to California.

Courtesy of ToledoBlade.com

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

Moolah Shrine Circus 1990?

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
Photo Courtesy of M Easley

Sparks Casino - Angel

The following page was found in a July 1990 Circus Report, less than a year following the Sparks Casino's purchase of a year old female calf from Roman Schmitt's breeding program at Busch Gardens.

Circus Report 07/30/1990

Moolah Shrine Circus 1988

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. I look forward to beginning these sets.

Moolah Shrine Circus, St. Louis, 1988
Photo Courtesy of M Easley

Highland Park Zoo - Rani

The Children's Zoo at Highland Park in Pittsburgh displayed a number of baby elephants, a custom most prevalent in zoos during the 1960s to 1970s. As worded by Toledo gossip columnist Don Wolfe, "the custom of trading in an automobile on a new model every few years has spread to elephants." The North American Regional Studbook for the Asian Elephant does not list any of the in-and-out animals to populate the Children's Zoo but four animals have been found, all using the "recycled" name Rani.

Children's Zoo - Highland Park - Pittsburgh
Courtesy of delcampe.net

Ringling Bros. Blue Unit 1972

Veterinarian John Cunningham of Olney, Maryland, worked on the ringstock crew of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1972 prior to attending veterinary school. During his annual visit to the Kelly Miller Circus, he shared his collection of photographs taken during his employment with the show.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Blue Unit 1972
Courtesy of Dr. J. Cunningham

Planter's Peanut Company

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 "Cinderelephant."

Zirkus Charles Knie 2013

Who says there "ain't no cure for the summertime blues?"

Zirkus Charles Knie ( D ) 2013
Courtesy of It's Circustime on Facebook

George Carden Circus Int'l 1980s

The following photograph can be found at Angie's Circus City Diner in Hugo, Oklahoma. It was posted to the Circus Historical Society's Facebook page with a question to the identity of the show, animals and handlers. Veteran bear trainer James C. Hall answers the inquiry.

Taken at Angie's Circus City Diner
Courtesy of R Easley 01/2013

Thousand Oaks - Sheba

Bandwagon magazine's Elephant Census, published in the March/April 1960 edition, lists a female Asian elephant "Sheba" at Auction City, Norwalk, California from 1952 to present. Sheba is listed acquired from Louis Goebel in Thousand Oaks, California.

Courtesy of dyingindowney on Flickr

Training Baby Elephants - Louisville Zoo

The following photographs were taken at the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky, February 2008. Featured is the 11 month old male African elephant Scotty with his trainer, retired elephant supervisor Dave Campbell.

Louisville Zoo 02/2008
Courtesy of R Easley

European Elephant Census 1993

The following elephant census was published in Circus Report No. 16, 04/19/1993. It reportedly includes both zoo and circus elephants and breaks the numbers down by both species and sex. The listing was compiled by Ray Owen of Herts, England.

Countries include Sweden, Denmark, United Kingdom, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Yugoslavia, Romania, Hungary, Czech, Poland and USSR.

African Elephants of Carson & Barnes Circus

The Carson and Barnes Circus, more famously known for its large herd of Asian elephants in the 1970s and 1980s, also featured numerous African elephants in their wild animal menagerie - 7 total it seems, acquired in three different groups.

Carson & Barnes Circus 1980s
Courtesy of B. Cline, Buckles Blog

Baltimore Zoo 2010

The following photographs were taken in May 2010 at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. The facility exhibits five African elephants - females Dolly, Anna and Felix with males Tuffy and Samson.

Main exhibt yard w/ barn in background
Courtesy of R. Easley

Franklin Park Zoo - Beba / Mary, Part II

The story of Beba was unfolded with the purchase of numerous local news articles from the Boston area between 1948 to 1960.
>> www.showmeelephants.com/2011/06/franklin-park-zoo-beba.html

Courtesy of Daily Boston Globe 07/1948

Franklin Park Zoo - Pat

The Franklin Park Zoo acquired a nine month old, 650 pound baby elephant in March 1952, bringing its herd of Asian elephants to four, joining Beba, Topsy and Jennie.

Courtesy of BostonGlobe.com

Riddle's Elephant Sanctuary 2004 I

The following photographs were taken in August 2004 at Riddle's Elephant Sanctuary. This documentation of the facility's morning bath routine features two of the six African males the Arkansas location held - Solomon and Tuffy.

Riddle's Elephant Sanctuary 08/2004
Courtesy of R. Easley

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.