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Darryl, that sure does look like him? I worked with him for about a month before they sold him away from the zoo there. I went down there after I left the Blue and he was downing all the goofs at the Central Florida zoo.. From Buckles: I had forgotten all about him. He got his name from the Sobik Ice Cream Co. that purchased him for the Zoo. Someone realized that they had their hands full and hey brought him to the Park as soon as we got moved in. He was only with us for a few days, just long enough to get him laid down, sat up. and a new outlook on life. We called him "Saw Buck". Later Rex changed his name to "Tusko" and eventually Hackenberger called him "Rex". |
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
"Sobik" (From Gary Hill)
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6 comments:
dcv
Good morning Buckles,
I picked up "Tusko" from the Vargas show when it was playing San Diego in 1985. He travelled to African Lion Safari where he stayed until donated to Gary Johnson. He now resides at the Oregon Zoo in Portland.
I have always liked and enjoyed elephants. They have been my rudder through life and ultimately my raison detre. in the case of "Tusko" I fealt no such emotion a duller, more apethetic, slothenly elephant I have never encountered.In short I loathed him.
On November 12 1989 "Tusko" was fighting with "Rex" in the back holding of African Lion Safari. A young trainer by the name of Omer Norton attempted to intervene and was killed by "Tusko". This young man was attending McMaster University and was intending to enter medical school. His death destroyed his family and broke my heart.
Over the past 23 years I visit his grave site when I can. Last November his mom, Karen, flew in from British Columbia and I met her and his sister at the grave on the 12th. While standing there Karen took my arm, starred straight into my eyes an said, "it took we a long time to stop hating elephants for what they did to Omer but now I am at peace". My reply to her was along the lines: I never hated elephants as a consequence of Omer's death but I sure hated "Tusko" over it". She stared at me for quite a while and then in that wonderfully direct manner that older moms have she said " no more of ths hating "Tusko" I have forgiven elephants so you must let go of your hatred of "Tusko"".
The elephant/human world is shrinking. I have always considered that service to elephants is an enobling cause and that time in their company is to me a "gracious act". My two teenage boys are beginning their journey in the "gracious act". I can not image how I could cope if the were to meet the same end as Omer. As I stood beside Karen on the day after the date of the armistice which ended the war to end all wars, I was struck by the incredible beauty of her act of forgiveness. Futher my own nutured hatred of "Tusko" fealt tawdry and shameful in the presence of such generosity.
So I have forgiven "Tusko". I don't hate him, I just don't like him very much, but as he is on the other side of the continent what does it matter.
"Rex's" original name was "Barney" when Rex Williams donated him to me. He had a long illustrious career at African Lion Safari and now resides in the fine state of Oklahoma.
There is an interesting and quite hilarious story about how "Rex" almost cost me a quarter of a million dollars in fines, however that is a story for another time.
To those who have made the ultimate scrifice in their service to elephants, they must not be forgotten. We who still conduct the craft and trade of elephants know the terrible beauty that such a partnership can entail. I hope that while diminished our efforts with elephants continue but as we go through our days stop and remember those who passed before not that they were great men or women, but rather they were captivated and enthralled by that great thing .... the elephants which we so proudly serve.
Very profound.
Mike,
"a duller, more apethetic, slothenly elephant is sure the Tusko I remember. Rex used to say, "that Kenworth tractor has more sense than that God d**m elephant."
Wade Burck
He sure had the whole Zoo in Florida on their heels. I showed up after hearing about him putting more than a few in the hospital including the Head man there...they kept him in a small area with a pond, a shaded area and a length of chain from one side to the other..He shared it with a pygmy hippo that never seemed to come out of the water? The fellow in the photo without the shirt was the only guy willing to go into the area with me. I went in and he really was a good boy? Laid down and he was so out of shape and lazy? I started a daily program of the things the Capt trained him to do in those few days, and he retained them as long as ya acted like ya knew more than him? He never did act stupid or tough, seemed to enjoy to work?
And actually he was donated by a Sub Sandwich Shop in Orlando called Sobik Subs..
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