|
Shanti was born at the Lincoln Park Zoo, October
10, 1990. Bozie her mother was transported to Dickerson Park Zoo,
Springfield, MO for breeding to her father, Onyx, one of the few
breeding bulls in the country. Onyx was previously owned by Murray
Hill that imported, trained and performed with him for 15 years.
At the age of 18 months, some how in the middle of the night Shanti
broke her front leg. This was properly taken care of by the zoo
veterinarians and she was soon on her way to mending.
During her recuperating period she was pampered and turned into a
spoiled baby elephant. One of the employee keepers was injured
during this time. Shanti was then marked as a behavioral and a
crippled elephant. At the age of 4 ½ she was transferred to the Buffalo Zoo, Buffalo, NY,
April of 1995. This didn't last long as the ARC was called asking if we
would take Shanti. We readily approved her transfer to our
facility
in Fordland, MO. As Lincoln Park Zoo was still legal owners of
her at that time they wanted to keep ownership. A deal was made that
the Arc would keep her for one year and at the end of that year after
a complete veterinary examination showing good results Shanti would
then become the property of the ARC. This was done in September of
1996.
Her arrival was a nightmare, with her unloading from the
tractor-trailer and putting her into the barn. She was the first
elephant to reside in the new barn. For months no one could get
anywhere near her due to her aggression. With time and patience she
finally settled down to the point that we could go into her room
without her charging. We eventually put her out in a field where she
could swim in a pond, graze, and she destroyed quite a few trees.
In April, 2000, we were approached by several facilities wanting Shanti for
breeding purposes. After investigating these facilities we decided to
donate her to the Houston Zoo, Houston , TX as they had an excellent
male, (Thai), that has produced babies in the past, and their staff of
keepers are well versed in breeding and the birth process. After an
inspection by their veterinarian and one of their elephant handlers
they were satisfied that her leg was now properly healed and showed no
sign of a limp. Their handler came and spent 2 weeks with us so that
when Shanti would arrive in Houston she would know someone and not be
completely lost.
We have just been notified that as of April, 2004, she is pregnant
and expecting to give birth any day.
She has had her baby!!!!!!!
Visit the Houston Zoo.
|
