Seems to me that he died at the conclusion of the 1949 season but by that time they had acquired a female gorilla named "Toto" that carried on with the show. I think he died from pulmanary problems but I'm not sure.
Gargantua died the last day of the 1949 season in Miami. Toto was a female acquired from Mrs. Hoyt who lived in Cuba for many years. Toto was a very heavy female, over 400 lbs., normal weight would be about 220. Toto died in Venice in July 1968. There was one attempt to see if they would breed -- neither gorilla was interested.
I know some of my questions are on the internet. So many experts who have never cared for ,owned, lived with animals give their version of what is supposed to be. I would rather ask circus people who have first hand know how to answer the questions so we get the truth. They tell it like it is or was. LJ always tells interesting animal stories and makes you laugh once in a while. He freely admits to not having the skills to be an animal trainer. SO refreshing. Some of the things involved with normal everyday animal care grosses him out. I never felt that way and just did what needed to be done like normal [I use the term lightly] animal people do for the health and well being of our animals. Now I wonder sometimes how I really did some of those things. God is was wonderful to be ignorant and happy.
4 comments:
How long was he on the ringling show? Where did he end up? What did he die of?
Seems to me that he died at the conclusion of the 1949 season but by that time they had acquired a female gorilla named "Toto" that carried on with the show.
I think he died from pulmanary problems but I'm not sure.
Gargantua died the last day of the 1949 season in Miami. Toto was a female acquired from Mrs. Hoyt who lived in Cuba for many years. Toto was a very heavy female, over 400 lbs., normal weight would be about 220. Toto died in Venice in July 1968. There was one attempt to see if they would breed -- neither gorilla was interested.
I know some of my questions are on the internet. So many experts who have never cared for ,owned, lived with animals give their version of what is supposed to be. I would rather ask circus people who have first hand know how to answer the questions so we get the truth. They tell it like it is or was. LJ always tells interesting animal stories and makes you laugh once in a while. He freely admits to not having the skills to be an animal trainer. SO refreshing. Some of the things involved with normal everyday animal care grosses him out. I never felt that way and just did what needed to be done like normal [I use the term lightly] animal people do for the health and well being of our animals. Now I wonder sometimes how I really did some of those things. God is was wonderful to be ignorant and happy.
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