One of the most impressive bull elephants, Europe has ever seen !
This picture was taken by Steve Romo. He gave me permission to post some of his remarkable photos here on ZooChat.
Thanks for the information Tim. It seems like I've missed my chance to see a cyclotis in any European or American zoo.
Did it appear noticeably different to you from the savanna elephants? I think that there was also a cyclotis at Whipsnade at about the same time as the one in Paris?
I always thought that the forest elephant in Paris was a rather strange looking animal; he certainly didn’t look like a typical forest elephant to me (although, to be fair, I have seen very few genuine forest elephants to compare him with).
I saw the African forest elephant “Jumbo III”, at Whipsnade many times over the years. In contrast to the Paris animal, he looked like a typical forest elephant; he had the distinctive rounded ears and downward pointing tusks that I’ve always thought characteristic of this form.
(The Cameroon Government presented this elephant to Queen Elizabeth II; he was at Whipsnade Zoo from 1973 until 1988. Prior to being moved to Whipsnade he was kept on the Cotton Terraces at London Zoo for a while where I also saw him several times; before that he was kept in the small zoo at Crystal Palace.)
This photo won BEST VINTAGE ZOOCHAT PHOTO! "Congratulations to the renowned Steve Romo for his photo of Siam which has won the very prestigious Best Vintage Zoochat photo! Thank you also Gentle lemur for nominating this photo and everyone who go involved. Let's make sure this is a part of a growing interest in vintage photography, and make sure we preserve zoo history! I encourage all members to scan and upload all your vintage photographs. Well done Steve Romo and Middle Man! "
@Tim May hi just to add your right on your observations on coco paris forest elephant . it could be that coco was a cross with a bush elephant which is why he appearance wasnt a complete forest . when chipperfields first set up the safari parks they use to get there elephants from neighbouring Uganda and a few of these calves would have forest distinguished amongst them . back then in the sixties it was common for the species to interbreed . not so much now though due to declining numbers .
