You gotta wonder if this keeper was generating any
revenue, or just "grandstanding" for the broad? LOL
Didn't this elephant Gunda eventually "go south"
and kill somebody?
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Bronx Zoo Elephant and Camel rides
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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2 comments:
He didn't actually kill anyone, in 1913 he nearly killed his keeper Walter Thuman and knocked Dick Richards down. The Zoo Director william Hornady decided to chain him in his stall as he was to dangerous to handle. In 1914 The Times and the ASPCA decided it was cruel to have Gunda on display in chains and they patitioned the zoo to destroy him. The zoo fought as long as they could but the public sentiment persisted and Gunda was shot on June 21, 1915 by Carl Akeley. Gunda was at the zoo from 1904 to 1915. After the elephant was dead the Times admitted that Dr. Hornaday "had a superior knowledge of elephants and his motives were in responsibility to his elephant and his keepers, while his critics had nothing but emotions born out of ignorance." A little late since the Times started the whole thing.
Wade, I forgot to mention that there is alot of info on Gunda in the William Bridges book "Gathering of Animals", it is a historcal look at the New York Zoological Society. Chapter 13 is called "Good Elephants and Gunda".
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