I believe they either played a role in getting her sent to ZSL, or tried to stop it, I can't remember which, though the government concerned probably actually presented her. At that time they were not particularly anti-zoo ( or any-zoo probably) that all came with their later experiences of her.
I do recall reading in one of the national papers an article in which Bill Travers and Virginia Mc Kenna visited Pole Pole at Regents Park, they stated that when they called her name she came running over to the moat to see them, she was living alone then. She died in October 1983, I recall it was a major national newspaper headline at the time.
The film was "An Elephant Called Slowly" (it was on television on one of the Bank Holidays in May), pole pole meaning slowly, or slowly slowly, in Swahili. As Pertinax believes she was presented by the Kenyan government as a replacement for Dicksie (whichever spelling one prefers) I believe. After her death and Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers started kicking up a fuss I remember reading that the zoo had said it got the animal "second-hand from their wretched film" or words to that effect.
The film was "An Elephant Called Slowly" (it was on television on one of the Bank Holidays in May), pole pole meaning slowly, or slowly slowly, in Swahili. As Pertinax believes she was presented by the Kenyan government as a replacement for Dicksie (whichever spelling one prefers) I believe. After her death and Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers started kicking up a fuss I remember reading that the zoo had said it got the animal "second-hand from their wretched film" or words to that effect.
I think it has been well established that the correct spelling is Dicksie, not Dixie, as I always thought it was until I came on here, never to old to learn, I saw her just before she fell in the moat and died, my infants school teacher was actually at the zoo when it happened, tragic.
The strange thing is other Elephants that lived in that house before and afterward, did not become so difficult to manage as she did. It was obviously an individual thing. She brought a whole lot of bad publicity for the Zoo too. At the time the press said she was going 'mad' and Zoocheck/BornFree was established because of her.
Her unfortunate death was caused during attempts to crate her for removal to Whipsnade, making the situation even worse.
The Asian Elephants that came afterward seemed to be okay, though Thi was later removed to Chester as she showed nervous and stereotypic behaviour in particular.
Within reason: As stated, Thi moved to Chester. Azizah exhibits "swaying" behaviour (though this is attributed to her being separated from her mother, nothing to do with ZSL). Geeta was euthanised due to suffering arthritic problems. Both Geeta and Mya exhibted/ currently exhibit dominance behaviour a few years after the group moved to Whipsnade. As a result, it remains difficult to fully mix Mya with Kaylee,the current matriarch.So in essence you have two groups at Whipsnade.
It is still like this? I have never seen more than three cows together at Whipsnade, normally only two before the arrival of Karishma from Twycross.
There are many reasons why Elephants develop stereotypic behaviour in captivity- I wasn't suggesting the unsuitability of London's house was actually the cause in any of those cases, just why e.g. Thi was sent away.
It is still like this? I have never seen more than three cows together at Whipsnade, normally only two before the arrival of Karishma from Twycross.
There are many reasons why Elephants develop stereotypic behaviour in captivity- I wasn't suggesting the unsuitability of London's house was actually the cause in any of those cases, just why e.g. Thi was sent away.
To a certain extent. The issue appears to be Mya who, when not mixed with Karishma, George and Max, is often mixed with Emmett.However, I have seen ALL the cows and offspring be taken out for a walk as one group many times-Kaylee always being the lead elephant. Its only then that you get to see the true size of Mya when compared to the other cows!
The idea was that there would have been a bull house on the Events Lawn, with the paddock extended. I am not sure that this ever really was thought of as more than an aspiration, but the front paddock of the Children's Zoo (where the Llamas now live) made it a practical impossibility.
Yes, I've noticed that too. Presumably when out walking in the Park and under close supervision they can't misbehave and start any dominance or related other behaviour which only happens in the house/paddocks.
