Asian Elephant Death

Asian Elephant Death, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. In this photo provided by Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Taj, an Asian elephant is shown on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 in Vallejo. Calif. Taj passed away on Monday, Jan. 17, 2011, after her quality of life had declined significantly. She was 71 years old. (AP Photo/Six Flags Discovery Kingdom) Taj, the oldest Asian elephant in North America and an alumnus of Circus Vargas, has died at Vallejo's Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, it was announced Tuesday. She was 71. Though Taj's exact birthdate is unknown, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan studbook for elephants lists her birth year as 1940, according to the park announcement. No known records exist of her first 30 years. In the early 1970s, she served as one of the lead elephants for Circus Vargas. As a performing circus elephant for six years, she traveled throughout the country with world-renowned elephant trainer Rex Williams. In 1976, Taj was presented to the Hari Krishnas, who used her for a brief time as a symbolic part of their religious ceremonies. Unable to manage her due to her mischievous nature and high energy level, they sent her to Southern California's Moorpark College where she participated in its Exotic Animal Training Management program. From Buckles I wonder how they hit on 71? If the birth date is unknown why not 102? This is no doubt "Trixie" one of the nine elephants rounded up by Wally Ross in 1974 when Vargas decided he wanted his own herd. She remained on the show thru '78, spent the following year with the Hari Krishna people then to Six Flags. I saw her in 1977 when the Vargas Show played Florida she looked to be in her teens, wish I had thought to ask Wally where he found her. I also have "Taj" a young male listed during that period 1979-81, owned by Blackstone a magician and probably used as a "vanishing elephant", not the racing kind.