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PARADE OF PACHYDERMS

Mention the word "circus" to people who care about the welfare of animals and you will usually get a very negative response. I was pleasantly surprised, therefore, to find that Barnum & Bailey/Ringling Bros. have established a 200-acre, $5 million facility in Florida for the conservation, research and breeding of the Asian elephant which is on the endangered list. This site provides a great insight into these massive animals with lots of photographs. The FAQ page, Pondering Pachyderms, is full of interesting facts and figures. I "met" Osgood, who was born in August this year and weighed in at a bouncing 250 lbs. This engaging baby has his own photo album. He and his mother Emma, along with a number of other Asian elephants, live at the center. I'd hate to be paying their feed bill. Every day, these elephants consume about 2.5 tons of hay and 700-800 pounds of grain, fruit, and vegetables. It's reassuring to know that so much time and effort is being expended in the preservation of this magnificent species.

Tue, 16 Nov 1999 13:35:03 -0800