In the London Zoo file below, you will note this fellows name mentioned a couple of times. Who was he? He seemed to have the gaff on "white elephants". The one in the movie sure looked like it was different, at least around the eyes, it looks like a cremello horse. You will also note in the great London zoo file the name HH of Baroda. That's the same "family" that captured Mohan, and introduced the world to White Tigers.
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=25297
The Bronx has kept 31 elephants in it's history, with 21 deaths, and 7 relocation's. There has been one birth that died, and almost no effort to bred since 1983. A knock against sanctuaries is that they don't bred the elephant's, isn't that correct? The Bronx is one of the greatest zoo's in the world, bar none, but elephant's have historically never been high on their list of priorities. I am not suggesting that the Bronx elephants are not "happy" in the picture you enclosed. Do you think it is possible that they could be "happier?"
I received 3 "irate" emails this morning, from dear friends who are circus friends, chastising me for the comment above, which I posted on the "history channel" in response to a comment about what a shame it would be if the Bronx Zoo no longer had elephants. The emails all suggested that I should quit giving the activist's fodder in which to use against elephants in captivity. To all the misguided, although wonderful and caring and loving of the circus, YOU HAVE GOT TO QUIT TAKING THE ANIMAL RIGHTS MOVEMENT PERSONAL. It isn't directed at you, or what you love. It is directed at what was, and as you having never dealt with a captive animal as the professionals have, you just have to accept that not a single professional that I know or am aware of want it the way it was. In order to make the world better for the animals we love, we have to learn, understand and accept where we came from. Let's get it back to animal welfare where it is a valid concern, and debunk the animal rights which isn't valid.
The Bronx Zoo making the decision after many years and 31 elephants, with one birth, to not have elephants anymore when the remain ones are gone, is not a bad thing. It is a brilliant illustration to the new way of thinking and the knowledge that is now being used in the world of captive animals and animal welfare. It is not the elephant right, but it is our responsibility as caretakers.
The file above illustrating the history of the London Zoo's elephant program, does not point a bad finger at them. It brilliantly illustrates great breeding program now carried on at Whipsnade. Again, history showing where we were and and where were are, and where we are going. The ar nitwits don't have a foot to stand on, when you look at fact's. It isn't the old days, it's a new day.
Inventory price list above from an early animal exhibition. Does anyone know who "Howe" was or what the exhibition was about?
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This is one of the many 1830s traveling menageries. It was the “J. R. and W. Howe, Jr. & Co.’s New York Menagerie.”
It played in March 1834 in Baltimore then Washington, D.C. on March 21-24. Thereafter it played 45 dates in 9 states - - PA, NJ, CT, MA, VT, NH, ME, RI, and NY concluding at Poughkeepsie, NY on Nov. 3-4.
Note that the Rhinoceros, an Indian, was valued at $10,000 in 1834 ($258,000 today) with the elephant Columbus coming in at $9,000 ($232,200 today).
The rhino was the very first one ever seen alive in America, having arrived in Boston on May 9, 1830.
The elephant Columbus, an Asian male, arrived in Boston on May 14, 1831 aboard the brig Neponset. He toured until October 1851 when he fell though a bridge over the Hoosick River in North Adams, MA. He died a week later.
The late, great circus historian Stuart Thayer (1926 – 2009) has a lot about the Howe menagerie (including the route) in his monumental **Annals of the American Circus, 1793 -1860.** His writings on early elephants and rhinos are the sources for the above re those animals.
RJR,
Great stuff, thank you. I guess this little piece of paper with the inventory on it is very valuable as it listed the first rhino seen in America. I am embarrassed to say, but I also had never heard of Stuart Thayer or his book "Annals of the American Circus, 1793-1860", and he just passed in 2009? Incredible. Where did he live, and was he a member of a tent? Any insight is appreciated.
Regards,
Wade
Dear Wade: I had an old book about the London Zoo which I passed on to Sarah Hartwell. There was a picture of a white or albino elephant and of a keeper from Asia, possibly Burma, who if I'm not mistaken ended up being convicted of murder. I wonder if that could be the elephant in question, the white elephant at London Zoo, and the Asian keeper who was convicted of murder? Since I don't have the book I can't check, but London Zoo definitely had a white elephant and also a white puma back in the day. Oh I almost forgot. Remember Oliver Graham Jones London Zoo's vet? I just tried to google him using your blog's internal search engine, but got nothing. Hey remember that white chimpanzee Pinky? Take care. Sincerely Paul
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