Sunday, November 06, 2005

Big Modoc #4


This is a Chang Reynolds picture taken in California in 1939 and gives a good idea as to Modoc's massiveness. She was well in excess of 10,000 pounds which by today's Zoo standards might not be impressive but she was a working elephant and solid muscle.
I might add that if Ralph Helfer ever set eyes on this "Modoc" he bought a ticket

Posted by Buckles at 11/06/2005 06:53:00 AM

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just love your "I MIGHT ADD" comments.

07 November, 2005 16:19
Anonymous said...

Ringling's Modoc(the dancer)
has been discribed by elephant men who knew her,as a "Koomeriah'
which is the top caste of the elephant kingdom.Possibly of Royal heritage.
Eddie Allen the elephant trainer
of the Cole Bros. show in 1937
discribed her as such,also
Babe and Trilby were Koomeriah's,also Boo,except Boo had a notorius reputation as far as her relationship with humans went.

09 November, 2005 14:41
Anonymous said...

To be fair,I believe that
Raplh Helfer actually believes,that his Modoc
was the famous dancing Modoc.
In his book,they found out,this when they put on some music and his elephant started to do the rumba all by itself or some kind of dance.

09 November, 2005 15:02
Buckles said...

In the teak forests "Koomeriah" type elephants were preferred because of their bulk and low to the ground stature made them ideal as workers.
However the "Dwasala" and the leggy, rawboned "Meegra" were often more suitable as performers in the ring.
Simply because carrying less weight they can move faster and scramble up on tubs, barrels and do hand stands, hind leg walks, etc.

09 November, 2005 15:39
Anonymous said...

Dont elephants eyes start to run all the time when they get up in their 50's?

09 November, 2005 17:33
Anonymous said...

Everything runs on anything and everyone after 50.

11 November, 2005 18:50

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