From Vickie Cristiani #1

4516976999_72274fc87c_b, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. (Photo taken and information compiled by John Goodall) Here’s the red show elephant department as seen in Fairfax, Virginia, two weeks ago. From left to right—elephants first with ages—are Asia 42, Tonka 26, Luna 26, Assan 53, Sara 53, Toby 49, Banko 34, Siam 32, and Baby 49. The elephant care department human staff, also left to right, are: Jimmy Stricklin – 14-year veteran on the show and also the union steward on the red unit. Brian French – newly arrived from the blue unit and now head of the red show elephants; he’s a grandson of Oscar Cristiani through his daughter Karin and her husband Larry French. Brain tells me that he still has one of Oscar’s elephants at a retirement home in Valdosta, GA, that is now a very old 61 years. Ryan Henning – grandson of longtime CWM librarian Bob Parkinson (for whom I worked in 1972-73) and nephew of former CWM executive director Greg Parkinson; Ryan got much of his elephant tutelage under Sasha Houcke, one of the circus world's best. Lorenzo Delmoral – step-son of Tina Gebel-Williams. Nicoli (didn’t get his last name) – worked with bears on a circus in his native Moldova. Tripp Gorman – has worked for zoos in Greenville and Columbia, SC, as well as Knoxville, TN. Barbra Libby Garcia – is the grandniece of Dorey Miller. Kara Haggerty – has a zoology degree from an upstate NY college and has worked at the Buffalo and Rosamond Gifford zoos. Amanda Olson – has an animal ecology degree from Iowa State and has worked at Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines and Vince Shute Sanctuary in Orr, MN. Alex Vargas – Former flyer and now head of the animal department on the red show. Mario Bovio – grew up on Carson and Barnes circus and his family still works there. Justin Garret – Since this photo was taken, he’s been moved to the blue show. The only other individual who works with the elephants that is not in this picture is Pista, their night watchman. My thanks to Ryan, Brian, and all of these fine folks for their good work and friendship.