The only okapi ever shown by a circus. This is Mister G photographed by Dom Yodice in the menagerie of RBBB at Madison Square Garden in 1961. MR G was born at Brookfield Zoo on September 17, 1959, His sire was the Ringling owned Aribi which had been on loan by the circus to Brookfield since 1955. The understanding was that the show could have the first born calf - -the animal above. Mr G was exhibited in the Garden in 1960 and again in 1961. In 1962 he was sent to the Garden but suffered a stress attack because of an unloading delay and died. In between Garden dates he was kept at Zoorama, New Market, VA and at Bob Dietch's Kiddie Zoo across the river from the Garden in New Jersey. Meanwhile, in 1966, the sire, Aribi, was sent from Brookfield Zoo to Busch Gardens, Tampa, and lived there until his death in August 1978. |
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
From Richard Reynolds #8
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2 comments:
RJR,
Great, great history of a wonderful animal. Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge.
Wade Burck
Good Lord, Bob Dietch's Kiddie Zoo in Fair Lawn , NJ 2 miles from my front door. As a youngster my Dad took me there often and I marvelled at the fact that they had , at time, full grown elephants which I later learned were being boarded for RBBB. This is where too way in the back they had those old "jungle cages" Dom and/or Richard help me out here. I have a photo taken of Felix Adler, in suit and tie, visiting there in the early '50's. Sadly when it closed a large nursing home facility was built on the site. Fond memories.
Richard, about 5 or so years ago the Bronx Zoo had one, perhaps two, Okapis in their Congo complex. Do you know if they still do ? I envy your wife in that nice photo. Thank you once again for sharing your admirable wealth of knowledge.
Oauk Gutheil
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