| Tommy Burns does a promotion in 1934 with "Freida" newly acquired from the LaMont Show replacing "Gyp" who had died. |
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Barnett Bros. Circus early 1930's #8
Monday, October 08, 2007
From Joey Ratliff
An elephant is just an elephant. Well, at least that is what many visitors to the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans think before they run into elephant handler Joey Ratliff. "We have Asiatic elephants and most people without a real deep knowledge of wildlife do not realize there are African elephants and then there are Asian elephants," Ratliff said. "Actually, I like to say there are African elephants and then there are real elephants," he joked. Ratliff's passion for the Asiatic elephant shines through when he talks about the problems facing them. "There are serious habitat issues in Asia. One that has been happening is the explosion of tea plantations. All of these different kinds of teas are very popular and they clear the forest to make plantations and when an elephant comes tromping through it is often killed," Ratliff said. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates wild populations which are scattered throughout India, Nepal, Indonesia, China and a few other countries is between 25,600 to 32,750 individuals. That represents a stark decline over the last few decades and the results of habitat loss due to increased agriculture and related shootings as well as some ivory poaching. The WWF estimates there are between 470,000 and 690,000 African elephants left in the wild, which are nearly 20 times the best calculations for Asia's herd. African elephant numbers are increasing in some countries due to conservation efforts enacted by groups like WWF, Safari Club International and various African governments.  Alison Randel and Joey Ratliff take "Panya" for a walk at the Aududon Zoo before visiting hours. Photo by Chester Moore, Jr. The Audubon Zoo has a daily elephant show featuring Panya and Jean, two Asiatic elephants that shows the animals doing a few fun tricks and deals with the differences between the African and Asian pachyderms and addresses their problems in the wild. "The elephant show we do draws people in and gives us a chance to talk about conservation and the unique traits of elephants. We even take one of them over to where the public can reach over our protected area and pet them. That close encounter really makes some peoples day and gives them a real appreciation for these amazing animals," Ratliff said. Elephant shows at zoos are rare these days and some believe it is better to have a hands off approach. Ratliff disagrees. "The longest lived elephants are of course wild ones, but circus elephants are the second longest lived. Worker elephants are the third and zoo elephants are last," he said. Ratliff said the reason most zoo elephants live shorter lives than their wild and hard working counterparts is activity. "We do a show with our animals every day and we take them for a morning walk around the zoo and let them roam around a couple of unused areas in the zoo under our supervision. This keeps them in good shape and the training keep their mind sharp as well," he said. It also allows the zoo team to closely monitor their health and keep them clean. "It's not a problem for us to do things like inspect their feet or their teeth or bathe them because they are trained and that allows us to avoid many problems," Ratliff said. Panya is the eldest of the zoo's two elephants weighing more than 10,000 pounds and is middle-aged at 40. Elephants can live up to 70 years in captivity. Jean is a few thousand pounds smaller and 30 years old and upon being around the animals, you learn quickly they both have unique personalities. "Panya is very smart and likes to test you a little more than Jean. Jean however can have a short attention span so they both have their unique traits and that is one of the things that make elephants so interesting to work with," Ratliff said. In the wild the elephants would eat more than 500 pounds a day but due to being able to provide them with more nutritious fare the team at the Audubon Zoo "only" have to feed Panya and Jean around 175 pounds daily. "It's a pretty massive responsibility to work with elephants but its well worth it. Just the fact of being around the animals is amazing but also the fact you get to educate the public a little about them is very rewarding and that is what we are trying to do here," Ratliff said. If you have never been to the Audubon Zoo you really need to check it out. The Asian domain where the elephants dwell has a pair of white Bengal tigers, highly endangered amur leopards and a host of other fascinating creatures. The zoo also features an amazing South American exhibit, komodo dragons, a trip through a Louisiana swamp, primates such as orangutans and gorillas and numerous other exhibits featuring animals from around the world. For more information, go to http://www.auduboninstitute.org. *This article appeared in the 10/4/07 edition of the Orange Leader. To read the author's other outdoors stories there, go to http://www.orangeleader.com. |
From Dave Orr
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Gaylord Maynard's Funeral
I see on Bill Strong's Web Site that services for Gaylord will be held Thursday 12:00 noon at: |
Blue Show 1986 #1 (From Eric Beheim)
| |
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Still more headpieces (From Dave Price)
| This appeared on eBay awhile back. I had no intention of buying it, but it was getting very little action so I bid and won it. Was pleasantly surprised when I turned it over to find "Tom" marked on the back. The guy said he had bought it at a Cleveland auction. |
More headpieces #1 (From Don Bloomer)
| On the subject of elephant headpieces: |
From Bill Strong
| This front page Times picture from Mr. Strong points out that the elephants had no headpieces with Ringling-Barnum at this time. |
From Raffaele de Ritis # 1
| Dear Friends, |
Elephant Headpieces #1 (From Mike Naughton)
| We were chatting about the Ringling headpieces recently. Mike sent this picture which, from the crest, I assume comes from either Knie or Krone. |
Elephant Headpieces #2
| The Adele Nelson elephants "Myrtle", "Tillie" and "Jenny" with Louie Reed at right. He liked the European style but placed the bit much higher so it would fit thru their mouths. |
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Unidentified
| This nice looking wagon came out of the Robinson folder but has no identification. Rather than take another beating, I'll let someone else do the honors. |
Gentry Bros. Shows 1907
| "My favorite ticket wagon with the Original Gentry Bros. in Bedford, Indiana". |
Lucky Bill Show 1921
| Mrs. Newton. |
Friday, October 05, 2007
From Dave Reddy
Buckles: I just got home from substitute teaching a few minutes ago & called Agnes Arnold in Riverview. The only news that she could tell me was that Jim Elliott had triple bypass yesterday morning & that Tracy called their son Tommy after the surgery to report that Jim's heart stopped during the surgery & they had some trouble re-starting the heart. They arranged to have 24 hour nursing for him over night until today. & I would think that he was kept in like a coma state for a day to keep him quiet & stable from what she said they were going to keep him asleep for that time. Knowing him like you & I do; you can imagine how stirred up he would be if he knew his heart had stopped during the surgery. He makes 3 in the past 3 weeks--Jimmy Ridenour, Tom Powell last Fri. in Nashville & now Jim in Lansing. I will know more later after the Arnold's hear from MI again. Ivan was gone & Agnes didn't know if he had heard anything new this afternoon. When we hear more positive news; then you may want to to post it. I am sure he won't be heading for FL for a while & Tracy & Debbie have their carnival still out this weekend & next. I talked to him briefly on Wed. & he told me he had a tightness in his chest, but no pain when he had his heart attack--driving back from N of Grand Rapids after pulling a carnival load to Cedar Springs for this weekend--I think Mon. night. His step-daughter who stays at the house was flying up on Wed. afternoon to be with him. The oldest, Prissy is on the carnival up here. Jim's MI address: P O Box 23 Mason, MI 48854 More later---David Reddy |
"Barney" and "Vance"
| |
Concerned!
I was told last night that my good friend Jim Elliott had undergone Quadruple Heart By-Pass Surgery yesterday somewhere up in Michigan. |
From Dominic Yodice
| Buckles, |
Matthew Scott (From Joey Ratliff)
| |
Strates57
| "Bert and Sandy Pettus with former King Bros. elephants "Alice", "Mona" and "Margie". |
cristiani family early 1940's (From Mike Naughton)
| Found these on the Internet, thought you'd enjoy them. |
horse and two ladies
| "These two ladies are No's. 4 and 5 from left in the bottom row of the picture above. John Ringling North was engaged to one of them." Buckles |
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