Picadilly Circus - Joplin MO Tornado Disaster Relief

From Fox4KC.com:

"JOPLIN, Mo.— The Picadilly Circus is in Joplin, Mo. They decided to help with tornado cleanup by using highly trained elephants to move heavy debris. Photojournalist Matt Hensley video essay shows how residents booed and cheered the group's efforts."

"Elephant aides in disaster cleanup efforts"
Courtesy of WCPO.com

Giardino Zoologico di Milano

Wade Burck recently shared a vintage postcard featuring a female Asian elephant at the Milan Zoo in Italy.

Milan Zoo 1949
Courtesy of W Burck

Happy Memorial Day!

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Courtesy of T Hawk

Postcard Press - St Louis Zoo II

The following postcard is postmarked 1923, depicting the former elephant house of the St. Louis Zoo.

Photo 1, St Louis Zoo, 1920s
Courtesy of EBay

Photographs from the Son - Kelly Miller Circus

The following photographs were taken at the Kelly Miller Circus in Hancock, Maryland, in May 2009. The elephants touring with Kelly Miller are Lisa, Becky and Tracy of the Carson and Barnes Circus.

Photo 1, Kelly Miller Circus, May 2009
Courtesy of R Easley

San Diego Zoo

From Buckles Blog, 05/27/2011:

Video Views - Kelly Miller Circus

Hancock, Maryland, is a favorite spot for the Kelly Miller Circus. Every year the elephants are able to splash around in the river and knock a few trees down, having a grand time as they do so.

Kelly Miller Circus, May 2009
Courtesy of R Easley

Video Views - Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

From the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo:

On May 13, 2011, the Zoo's 29-year-old African elephant, Shenga, ventured into the North Pool at African Elephant Crossing and surprised our visitors by taking a very enthusiastic bath in the pool. We were lucky enough to catch the entire thing on video - and here it is.

Elephant Care Inquiry

From Wayne Jackson:

Hello Wayne,

I was wondering if you could post this to your elephant list. The first is what type of material other zoos use to create an elephant bite block I heard of zoos using this to get a good view of the teeth. Also what other zoos are using for elephant bug spray as we are currently using a whole bunch of natural bug sprays that are doing nothing to stop the mosquitoes from being attracted to the elephant. We have to be nearly covered in the deep woods off repellant to keep the mosquitoes off us this year.

Regards,
Wayne

National Zoo - Dzimbo

In October 1959, the Smithsonian National Zoo of Washington, D.C., received a baby African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a gift to the United States of America from the President of the French Communities of the Congo Republic, Reverend Fulbert Youlou.

Washington, A modern guide to the Nation’s capital; Michael Frome; 1960; Doubleday.
Courtesy of djgagnon.tumblr.com

Jim Stockley Collection - Cleopatra

Jim Stockley of South Africa has been kind enough to share with ShowMe Elephants his collection of photographs documenting the Chipperfield Circus and family history with elephants.

The following photograph was taken in Rome in 1963 during the filming of the movie 'Cleopatra' with Elizabeth Taylor.

"Chipperfields after 1945 - Louise leading elephant "Mary" in Rome on the set of Cleopatra"
Courtesy of J Stockley

Stockley Trained Animal Consultants CC
>> http://www.stockley.co.za/

Zoo de Vincennes

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

Photographs from the Son - St Louis Zoo I

The first three pictures were taken in June 2008 at the St. Louis Zoo in St. Louis, Missouri. The last 2 pictures were taken in December 2010. They are posted for Jim Alexander, who told us recently the current Sea Lion Arena is in its last year of usage in 2011. Prior to aquatic shows, it displayed the elephant show under the direction of Floyd Smith.

Photo 1, St Louis Zoo, June 2008
Courtesy of R Easley

Help Stomp Out EEHV

Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV) is killing baby elephants. This insidious, elephant-specific disease has a mortality rate estimated between 80 and 90% and has been the cause of death of approximately 25% of the Asian elephants born in North America since 1978. It usually strikes when the calves are between 1 and 4 years old. They most often succumb within 24 to 72 hours of showing the first symptoms. Various strains of the virus are found in Asian and African elephants in human care as well as in wild populations. There is no known cure or vaccine. //International Elephant Foundation

Ark in the Park by Mark Rosenthal

"I have recommended the book in the past, for all you folks who love zoo history and Lincoln Park as I do, and bring to your attention that it normally sells for 49.95 hardcover but there are currently 5 available at Amazon for 39.89. It is one of the best books available on the history of an American Zoological Institution and along with our friend Gary Clarke Director Emeritus of the Topeka Zoo's book "Hey Mister, Your Alligator is Loose," I promise you zoo buffs don't have a complete library without these two publications." //Wade Burck

Feedback from Viewers

I received the following email yesterday from a viewer of ShowMe Elephants.

Hi Ryan,

I love your blog! I love elephants. Can you add a RSS feed to your blog? It would make it easier to add to my igoogle homepage!

Many thanks,
Natasha
Chicago, IL

Thank you for your message, Natasha. I always appreciate feedback and comments. I have learned (after many attempts to add this option for you) that the blog is automatically enabled for viewers to subscribe to an RSS feed. If you scroll to the bottom of the page above the Elephant.se search box and ShowMe Elephants logo, there is text that states "Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)." By clicking this link at the bottom of the page, it will open another window where you may select different options to add the feed such as My Yahoo! and Google.

Also, I have shortened the articles displayed on the main page to help the blog load faster. Under each new article, simply select the "Read More..." link to view the full article and pictures posted.

Photographs from the Son - Cincinnati Zoo II

The following photographs were taken at the Cincinnati Zoo in May 2011.

Photo 10, Cincinnati Zoo, May 2011
Courtesy of R Easley

Photographs from the Son - Cincinnati Zoo I

The following photographs were taken at the Cincinnati Zoo in May 2011. At the time indicated, three females and a male Asian elephant resided at the zoo.

Photo 1, Cincinnati Zoo, May 2011
Courtesy of R Easley

Video Views - Cincinnati Zoo

The following videos were taken at the Cincinnati Zoo in May 2011.

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

Postcard Press - St. Louis Zoo

The following postcards were sold in pamphlet form by the St. Louis Zoo. They are provided courtesy of Susan Hoss of the Brookfield Zoo. The date of origin is unknown but the elephant trainer is identified as Floyd Smith. Perhaps Jim Alexander can provide more information regarding the elephants pictured and the time frame in which these were taken.

Postcard 1, St Louis Zoo
Postcard Courtesy of S Hoss

Cleveland Zoo - Willy

The Cleveland Zoo’s new $25 million ‘African Elephant Crossing’ five acre exhibit opened in May 2011, with two yards for the elephants, ponds for swimming, expanded sleeping quarters with sand flooring and a heated outdoor range, capable of holding up to ten elephants. Other animals will include other small African mammals, reptiles and birds. Hippos, tapirs and warthogs were reportedly cut to save the zoo $10 million.

"Supported by more than a century of experience caring for elephants, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is putting the finishing touches on a world-class elephant habitat and conservation center at the site of its 1950s-era Pachyderm Building. African Elephant Crossing quadruples the amount of indoor and outdoor space dedicated to these majestic animals and provides them with stimulating surroundings similar to their native savanna. Opening on May 5, 2011, the state-of-the-art exhibit will serve as a model for other zoos nationwide and become the Zoo's largest capital project since The RainForest opened in 1992."
Courtesy of AfricanElephantCrossing.com

The Father's Photographs - Caldwell Zoo

The following pictures were taken at an unknown date at the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas. They were taken between December 1988 to the early-1990s. At the time indicated, three African elephants resided at the zoo - females Tanya and Rolinda with male Chip.

The top picture features Chip on the left and presumably Tanya on the right with Rolinda in the middle. The female elephants in the top picture and the female in the second and third pictures need positive identification, in addition to the handler in the second picture.

Photo 1, Caldwell Zoo
Photo Courtesy of M Easley

America's Elephants by Bob Cline

From The Circus World LLC:

The new book by Bob Cline is a complete and factual understanding of these magnificent animals that lumber across this great land of ours. The Circus has been blessed to have the mighty titans aboard as they promoted and performed to the delight of throngs of people every day.

The book covers all aspects of the elephants in America from the first arrivals over two hundred years ago, to what kind of elephant is it, what do they eat, Zoos, retirement, Breeding of an endangered species, the sacred White Elephants, the amazing people who have cared for them, some of the most famous elephants, Jumbo, and the tragedies that have befell them.

The book contains 133 pages and utilizes over 50,000 words. The book also provides many Black and White Photos, Color Photos, Newspaper ads and full color posters.

The book will be offered right here for your historical and entertainment delight as an online e-Book only. Available for immediate download.

$1.00 of each purchase is donated to the OABA Animal Fund!( At the completion of your payment, you will see a return to the Circus World LLC bar. This takes you to the book.)

You may click the link at the top of the page or the picture below to order Mr. Cline's book 'America's Elephants.'

Oklahoma City Zoo - Malee

From the Oklahoma City Zoo's Official Facebook Page:

"The results are in! With over 14,000 votes cast, Malee (May-lee) is the winner! Malee ran away from the rest of the competition and garnered over 72% of the vote! Thanks so much to everyone that voted!"

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.

The 360 Series - Tulsa Zoo

A 360 Degree partial view of the Tulsa Zoo elephant exhibit, including the cow yard and public demonstration yard. Video taken by R Easley in December 2010.

Showmen's Rest - Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus

An imported entry from Circus Diaries regarding an event during the 2010 Kelly Miller Circus season.


A few weeks ago when we first entered the Chicago area, I visited the Showmen's Rest at Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park. Susan from the Brookfield Zoo informed me of the place and took me out there to see a bit of circus history.

Showmen's Rest is run by the Showmen's League of America and was created in 1916. It is surrounded by five elephants with their trunks lowered in mourning and is most recognized as the final resting place of the crash victims in the Hagenbeck-Wallace train tragedy of 1918.


The Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus was, at its peak, the second largest circus in America following only Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey. In June 1918 before dawn, the train was traveling through Illinois to Wisconsin when it was struck by an empty Pullman train. As a result of the crash and the fire ignited, eighty six circus hands, roustabouts and performers were killed; many more personnel suffered injuries, though no animals were lost.


The Showmen's League donated a portion of their newly formed resting place to the circus to bury those lost in the tragedy. Most of the stones are simply inscribed 'Unknown Male' (or Female) along with the fateful date, June 22,1918. There are a few with more proper names, such as 'Baldy,' '4 Horse Driver,' and 'Smiley.'


You can learn more about the story, Showmen's Rest, and the Showmen's League of America at their website.

From Chris Berry - Circus Posters
"This early -- and very rare -- Hagenbeck Wallace litho is a part of the Tibbals collection at the Ringling Museum of the Circus in Sarasota. Dated between about 1905 and the early 1920s it is one of very few surviving lithos printed for Hagenbeck Wallace by the Donaldson Litho Company. In addition to printing theatrical and circus posters, William Donaldson was the founder of Billboard magazine - originally targeted to billposters, but now focusing on the music industry."

Oklahoma City Zoo Elephant Birth

In celebration of Mother's Day, ShowMe Elephants discusses the first North American elephant birth for 2011.

In December 1998, half sisters Asha and Chandra were sold to the Oklahoma City Zoo. At their new home, they were both transitioned from Free to Protected Contact. In the summer of 2008, both cows were transferred across the state to the Tulsa Zoo on a breeding loan, slated to return by the end of 2010 upon the completion of a new Asia exhibit.

The new Asia exhibit was designed as an 11 acre, $23 million dollar project due to open in 2011. The elephant exhibit will be designed as though entering Thailand and giving the elephants up to six acres of grassland, as opposed to the previous quarter acre of concrete.

A year after arriving, Asha and Chandra were introduced together to Tulsa's 36 year old bull elephant Sneezy in the summer of 2009. After behavioral changes and high hormone levels in bloodwork, Asha was confirmed pregnant when a heartbeat was detected during an ultrasound in October. It was announced to the public in December. Both returned in winter 2010 to adjust to the new habitat before its debut; only Asha returned pregnant, though both cows were observed bred by the male.

The Oklahoma City Zoo debuted their new elephant exhibit on March 11. The $13 million project boasted to be the largest Asian elephant exhibit in the country. It was funded by Oklahoma City sales taxes, except for $665,000 in private donations. Nine and a half acres for the exhibit includes three exhibit yards, a demonstration pavilion and an eight stall barn with a sand floor common area. The new habitat opened just weeks before the expected delivery of the zoo’s first baby elephant.

In mid April, the zoo took both elephants off exhibit while awaiting the birth of Asha’s calf. The expectant mother was kept in the barn’s maternity stall while her sister Chandra stayed in the community stall. 16 year old Asha gave birth to a 304 pound healthy female calf several days later on Friday, April 15.

Asha and calf, Oklahoma City Zoo
AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki - News.Yahoo.com

A large compilation of news articles regarding the Oklahoma City Zoo elephant program and the first birth in the zoo's history, along with a live webcam of the animals can be found at NewsOK.com.

>> "Elephant Nation" at NewsOK.com

Chandra, calf and Asha, Oklahoma City Zoo
AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki - News.Yahoo.com

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mother's Day to my mother, Karen. Featured below are a few pictures of her four children throughout the years.

San Antonio Zoo, July 1994

Toledo Zoo Elephant Facilities

The Toledo Zoo debuted the first phase of their new elephant exhibit in May 2010. Phase Two is projected to open in 2012, giving the zoo's two adult female African elephants and adolescent male more than an acre of space. The construction and expansion was made possible by a Capital Levy voted on by residents of Lucas County.

Conceptual rendering of Phase II Exhibit, Toledo Zoo
Photo Courtesy of ToledoZoo.org

Photographs from the Son - Toledo Zoo

The following pictures were taken in August 2009 at the Toledo Zoo in Toledo, Ohio. At the time indicated, two elephants resided at the zoo - 30 year old African elephant Renee and her six year old son Louie. Renee was impregnated via Artificial Insemination with semen collected from Bulwagi of Disney's Animal Kingdom. At the time, both animals in the zoo's collection were managed in Free Contact.

The Toledo Zoo celebrated Louie's eighth birthday last week.

>> "Zoo gives Louie star treatment for 8th birthday," ToledoBlade.com, 05/01/2011

Photo 1, Renee, Toledo Zoo
Photo Courtesy of R Easley

The Father's Photographs - Rio Grande Zoo

The following pictures were taken in April 1994 at the Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At the time indicated, three elephants resided at the zoo - 20 year old year old Asian elephant Alice, her year and a half old daughter Rozie and 32 year old African elephant Tia.

Photo 1, Rio Grande Zoo
Photo Courtesy of M Easley

Portland Zoo - Droopy

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

Sunday, May 1, 2011
Elephant calf being fed at the vet school - 1968
I am assuming this is Portland Zoo's Droopy born Sept. 29, 1968, and died Oct. 4, 1968.
Posted by Wade G. Burck

Droopy was the seventh calf born to the Portland Zoo's breeding herd of Asian elephants, sired by Thonglaw and born to first time mother Effie. The female calf only survived for five days before her death.

Droopy's dam Effie was listed in previous versions of the North American Regional Studbook for the Asian Elephant as "Lost to Follow-up" and differentiated as two separate elephants. This is in part due to a name change from 'Effie' to 'Sue.' An incorrect arrival date to Busch Gardens Tampa from the Portland Zoo precedes Effie's "Lost to Follow-up" status. The second entry for this same animal lists the correct date for Sue's arrival to Busch Gardens Tampa from an unknown location and her death in June 1985. Sue is listed with Temporary Studbook Number T1368. The 2010 Edition of the studbook merges these two animals. After her purchase by Busch Gardens, Effie was relocated to Texas a year prior to Busch Gardens Houston's May 1971 opening. The park closed less than two years later, prompting her transfer to the Tampa facility with three other female Asian elephants, Kaba, Tina and Mem. All four elephants remained in Florida until their deaths except Tina, still living and one of five members in the park's herd.

At Busch Gardens Tampa, Ellie resided with another elephant from the Portland Zoo breeding program. Emma (also listed as M&M) was born into Portland's Asian elephant herd in October 1973, sired by Vance and the fourth calf for dam Rosy. Within a year of her successful birth, Emma was sold to the San Jose Zoo. This transaction perhaps took place as brokered by Texas facility Vivo Animales. The 2010 Edition of the studbook adds this location in her history between Oregon and California. More information is sought regarding this location in Lorena, Texas.

A reference has been found regarding a fire at a zoo in San Jose that killed an elephant calf in the 1970s. More information is sought regarding this animal, unlisted in the studbook.

Emma / M&M reveals another update in the 2010 Edition of the North American Regional Studbook for the Asian Elephants. Previous versions list her with an alternate name 'Satchmo.' The 2010 Update adds Satchmo as a new elephant, SB 698, a year old male Asian elephant first arriving to Vivo Animales and transferred to Busch Gardens Tampa in July 1975 with Emma. He died the following month.

Records
Droopy, Asian Female, SB 55
29 Sep 1968 - Birth, Portland Zoo, Portland, Oregon
04 Oct 1968 - Death, Portland Zoo, Portland, Oregon

Effie (Sue), Asian Female, SB 54
1950 - Birth, Asia
1951 - Oakland Zoo, Oakland, California
11 Aug 1966 - Portland Zoo, Portland, Oregon
05 Mar 1970 - Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida
05 Jun 1970 - Busch Gardens, Houston, Texas
23 Jan 1973 - Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida
01 Jun 1985 - Death, Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida

Emma (M&M), Asian Female, SB 63
31 Oct 1973 - Birth, Porltand Zoo, Portland, Oregon
Unk - Vivo Animales, Loreana, Texas
~1974 - San Jose Zoo, San Jose, California
22 Jul 1975 - Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida
26 Oct 1986 - Death, Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida

Satchmo, Asian Male, SB 698
1974 - Birth, Asia
~1974 - Vivo Animales, Loreana, Texas
22 Jul 1975 - Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida
30 Aug 1975 - Death, Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida

Jardin Zoologico Nacional de Chile

Santiago Zoo, 2010. The upgraded elephant enclosure can be seen at the left.
Photo Courtesy of ThisIsChile.com

Elephant.se previously only displayed two unknown female African elephants at the Jardin Zoologico Nacional de Chile, or the Chile National Zoo in Santiago.

With research performed by ShowMe Elephants, the database has now been updated with more information regarding the zoo's pair of African elephants, Jumbo and Protea. Two past elephants residing at the zoo also have been identified. More details regarding these four animals' history are still sought.

Jumbo and Protea arrived together to Chile in January 1996 as gifts from the government of South Africa. They replaced the zoo's first elephant Fresia. Fresia was acquired from the Rio de Janeiro Zoo in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1940. The Asian elephant died 51 years later in May 1991 of a heart attack; efforts to raise her to her feet were unsuccessful.

An African elephant (name, sex and origin unknown) succumbed in the 1990s after several surgeries performed to remove trash and other debris from its stomach.

It is interesting to note the Santiago Zoo's official website gives the wrong classifcation information for the African elephant. It is listed as Order Artiodactyla and Family Hippopotamidae, rather than Order Proboscidea and Family Elephantidea.

Protea and Jumbo of the Santiago Zoo
Photo Courtesy of Zoologico.cl

For Additional Information
>> "Elefanta Fresia," YouTube.com

>> "Chile Zoo Seen as Unfit for Man or Beast," NYTimes.com, 06/23/1996

>> "Elephant discovers the pitfalls of mating," DeseretNews.com, 09/17/1997

>> "Untamed and Uncut: Electrified Elephant," Animal Planet on YouTube

>> "Chile´s National Zoo still growing after 85 years of history," ThisIsChile.cl, 2010

Records at Elephant.se
>> Fresia at Elephant.se

>> Jumbo at Elephant.se

>> Protea at Elephant.se

>> Unknown at Elephant.se

Update 05/03/2011
"On Showmeelephants, Radar ponders who was responsible for listing the African Elephants on the Santiago Zoo's official web site as Order Artiodactyla and Family Hippopotamidae, rather than Order Proboscidea and Family Elephantidea. I am not sure but probably the same person who decided that "mint" was a more natural color for the horrid elephant building then the mud brown color(they need to dump a pile of rubble on top of it, ala Brookfield.) Probably also the same person who said, "let's try to think of a new, never before used elephant name this time. I know, how about Jumbo?" //Wade Burck

Photos of the elephants and exhibit are also available at the following link.

>> "For Radar--Jumbo and Protea, National Zoo, Santiago Chile," Circus No-Spin Zone, 05/03/2011

The Father's Photographs - Little Rock Zoo II

The following pictures were taken in 1987 at the Little Rock Zoo in Little Rock, Arkansas. At the time indicated, a single female Asian elephant resided at the zoo, Ellen.

Photo 6, Little Rock Zoo
Photo Courtesy of M Easley

Little Rock Zoo - Ellen I

The following pictures were taken in 1987 at the Little Rock Zoo in Little Rock, Arkansas. At the time indicated, a single female Asian elephant resided at the zoo, Ellen.

"Between 1950 and 1951 Ellen was imported to New York City from Thailand by Henry Trefflich. In 1954 she was sold to the Little Rock Zoo. No other animal at the Little Rock Zoo has been as recognizable to the community as Ellen the elephant. Generations of Zoo visitors have come to visit Ellen since her arrival in 1954. Ellen will turn 60 in 2011."

>> Ellen at LittleRockZoo.com

The North American Regional Studbook for the Asian Elephant does not list Ellen's importation by Henry Trefflich before her arrival to Arkansas.

>> Ellen at Elephant.se

Photo 1, Little Rock Zoo
Photo Courtesy of M Easley

Photo 2, Little Rock Zoo
Photo Courtesy of M Easley

Photo 3, Little Rock Zoo
Photo Courtesy of M Easley

Photo 4, Little Rock Zoo
Photo Courtesy of M Easley

Photo 5, Little Rock Zoo
Photo Courtesy of M Easley