This is in front of the elephant barn, Vincent. Left to right Lottie, Minnie, Queen, Joy, Gypsy, Ronnie(mother of Nic) Debbie Liz and my son Eric. All of these elephants live in Tennessee now, except Joy who lives in Oklahoma and Gypsy, who lives in California with Nic.
The elephants going in the barn. I think I was the last one in America to use a whip while working the elephants, something which Vincent is very familiar with in Europe.
This comment that Bob posted to a picture on the History Channel in regards to Gunther is very insightful and appropriate for a thousand animal situations.
ReplyDeleteBob Karczewski said...
I remember seeing Gunther present his tiger act in Detroit at Cobo Hall or the Joe Louis Arena. While he was busy getting all of the tigers moved into position for the group laydown, one of the tigers at the end of the group off to Gunther's left was harassing his neighbor while looking in Gunther's direction at the same time. Evidently the tiger wanted to keep an eye on Gunther so he wouldn't get caught doing it. Animals can do some funny things.
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If you blow up the top picture in this post you will note the two elephants with their ears flared out. Heres what happened that day, and if you follow right to left you will understand why I love animals so. I was down by Eric looking at a bump on Liz's leg from rubbing on trees. While I was preoccupied at that end, Lottie and Minnie on the other end started throwing dirt and rubbing on the barn. I yelled at them 3 times to "quit" but they ignored me, and pretended like they didn't hear, because I was way done at the other end. As I headed done the line to correct them, the picture was taken. Debbie Ronnie, and Gypsy "snapped to attention" as I wheeled and passed, then turned to make sure I hadn't hurt Liz, as I went by. Joy and Queen are at attention because I am passing them. The two numbnuts on the end who had "hearing problems" Lottie and Minnie, got startled when I was all of a sudden "right there" yelling "quit", because they were too busy ignoring me to hear the other girls telling them I was coming. LOL God I miss them so.
Wade
Wade I love the explanation of the elehants antics. They are so like the horses
ReplyDeleteDianne,
ReplyDeleteI have said it many times in the past to many people, if you understand a dog, you understand a horse, and you understand a tiger, and you understand an elephant, and you understand an Orka, and you understand a camel, etc. etc. you can train them all. Accepting slight "nuances" like you might get killed if you make a mistake, animals are all the same. It's understanding them, and not giving them pathetic human emotions, that many have a problem with. God love them all.
Wade
Wade,
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting these very interesting pictures! I regret that I was never able to see one of these acts. Who tought you to work Elephants?
Vincent
Vincent,
ReplyDeleteI don't think you can "teach" somebody to train animals. You can show them what the animals are supposed to do but that is all. It is something you have to feel from deep, deep inside. The first Western Pleasure Champion Arabian I trained, I went to the top shows for a year to watch what was winning in the show. When I saw how they were holding their heads, and with what speed they were moving, I went home and trained one. Not from watching the trainers, but from watching the horses, and knowing how the trainers were getting the movements.
I relayed the story at the start of the blog, and there are other elephant pictures back in the earlier posts. My first job in the circus was as a prop boy/elephant groom. When the trainer left suddenly after a couple of months, I took over the elephants and his small tiger act of 7 Sumatran tigers. His name was Lou Regan, and my oldest son Adam Regan Burck is named after him.
Wade
What year was this?
ReplyDeleteRadar,
ReplyDelete2007, possibly.
Wade