Monday, September 02, 2013

Peru Winter Quarters #7




Sells-Floto elephants "Peggy" and "Tessie" presented by Theodore Nelson.
They were purchased from the Busch Estate in St. Louis in 1930.
They must have been named after Busch children since the names Peggy and Tessie were still in use in the 1970's when I visited Benny White and Carly Peterson at Busch Gardens.
Maybe even today!


From Jim Alexander:

I haven't been to Grant's Farm, the Busch family estate, in several years but the last elephants I saw were a pair of Africans, Bud and Mic. It was common to see two young Asians, always called Peggy and Tessie. Probably economics and regulations change the routine. The Africans came in as youngers but have stayed year around at the farm just south of St. Louis. Ryan Easley might add more information, his dad worked with Bud and Mic for a time. (Name change, they don't make beers called Peggy and Tessie.)


Posted by Buckles at 9/02/2013 05:47:00 AM

1 comments:

Ryan Easley said...

I'm not sure how the ownership of Grant's Farm falls now following the sale of Anheuser-Busch to InBev five years ago. I remember years before that the management of the park transferred from the Busch brothers ( Andy and Billy ) to another individual. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here. What I do remember thoroughly is the elephant program. I did my first grooming there - never realized I would be applying those skills to tigers. Bud and Mickey ( Budweiser / Michelobe ) had their beginning training under Chuck Walters. Bud was castrated at the same time as several other African males ( George at Widlife Safari, not sure the other/s ). For a long period of time the program was run under Vito Domenech, brought up from Busch Gardens. Management dictated a transition to Protected Contact numerous years back and ended the public shows as I remember them. The farm doubled the size of their herd this year, acquiring two male Africans from Scott Riddle ( Toby and Max ).

03 September, 2013 10:25

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