San Diego Zoo #7

S.D. Zoo-7, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. (The Zoo's elephants swimming in their new enclsoure with local "bathing beauties" circa the 1920s.) In 1926, the zoo acquired a third elephant named Culver, who became something of a troublemaker and ended up having to be sold to a circus, where she showed no inclination to reform. In 1935, and with the intention of starting an elephant breeding program, the Zoo acquired a smallish but treacherous bull named Prince from the Barnes show. Specially constructed quarters were built for him. When he was finally ushered into his new home, he immediately walked over to the enclosure’s eight-foot moat and tumbled down into it. Bales of hay were piled up in the moat so that he could walk out, which he eventually did. Although the fall should not have caused him any serious injury, Prince died shortly afterwards and breeding program was put on hold. In 1937, the Cole Bros. Circus gave the Zoo two female elephants: Tommy and the infamous Boo. Soon tiring of Boo’s homicidal tendencies, Wegeforth had her executed. Tommy and Empress did not get along and eventually Empress was given to the Los Angeles Zoo. Tommy was well-liked by her keepers and made an excellent exhibit