Jewell

Photo by Adam: "Taken in last week of Feb. 2006 in Mobile Al. on Gophers Show this is Jewell."

Boo

Photo by Adam: "Taken in last week of Feb. 2006 in Mobile Al. on Gophers Show this is Boo."

Tina

Photo by Adam: "Taken in last week of Feb. 2006 in Mobile Al. on Gophers Show this is Tina."

Photos by Adam

Photos by Adam
Taken in last week of Feb. 2006 in Mobile, AL. on Gophers show this the last time I took pics of them. Tina and Jewell and a camel.

Tina & Jewell

Photo credit: Adam & Bonnie
This is Tina & Jewell on a lazy afternoon at Winter Quarters

Tennessee

Photo by: Adam & Bonnie:
Bonnie & Adam with Tina & Jewell in TN on Cole Bros.

Betty 03-06

These two pictures were taken a while after Betty arrived at The ARC. It took some time for us to have personal knowledge and repore with her. We found out that she not only had aggression toward people but other animals including elephants.

We had to keep the elephants separated so that all could get out into the acreage and enjoy the stress free freedom we supply for them.

Betty Upon arrival at The ARC

These two pictures are when Betty first arrived.

All new arrivals are housed in a separte room with access to an outside pen. Regardless what the reputation of the elephant we want to find out for ourselves. In this particular case as we have had before Betty had a severe behavior problem.

The pen is solid concrete on two sides and the front is constructed of 5 inch pipe 4 feet in the ground in concrete. Even with this strength Betty got a running start and hit the fence and made it vibrate. This might give some of you so called elephant experts what kind of power these animals have when they want to use it.

USDA Seeking Comments

On August 8, 2006 the USDA "USDA SEEKS COMMENTS ON CAPTIVE ELEPHANTS’ SPACE AND LIVING CONDITIONS" I have responded to the USDA's request for comments and here is what I had to say:

August 10, 2006

To Whom It May Concern:

With over 43 years of experience with elephants ranging from infant bottle babies to full grown bulls I have a wealth of knowledge from the school of hard knocks and am willing to share this information to help preserve the species.
Below please find my responses to the questions listed for your survey.
I find the last two questions are to complicated to answer in a short amount of space with the computer. I would however like to elaborate further on these topics.
I would appreciate a personal visit to discuss these matters.

Sincerely,
Murray Hill

* What are the causes of arthritis in elephants?
I am sure that there are causes contributing to arthritis that we still don't know about. The ones we do know about at the present time are being on concrete. Putting a softer surface over the concrete helps considerably. I have tried dirt, that didn't work for me as it meant changing the dirt continuously and either replacing it with fresher dirt or cleansing the existing dirt. I have been using wood, preferably oak, as there is enough give under the weight of the animal and still a solid floor.

For transportation (circus elephants), the air bags can be adjusted so that there isn't much shock going over rough road.

I have been in both situations, still operations and over the road and found this to be the best as none of my elephants developed arthritis. I'm sure there are other factors as there are in humans.

Q: What, if any, foot care practices have been used on captive elephants to maintain healthy feet?
A: The trimming of the pads, cutting of the nails and rasping the nails, In many cases I have seen that the pads are cut too far back and I have only cut pads when they would grow out the sides. If the bottom of the pad is smooth, even if there is crevasses other than clean the crevasses to make sure there isn't foreign matter in it I have found they work it down to where it should be if they are on a solid surface. The cutting of the nail should be even with the bottom of the pad. I have seen too many cases where the nail was cut to short and it bled making it vulnerable to infection. The rasping of the nail does nothing but open the nail to infection. It takes the protective covering off the soft areas of the nail; it also opens a greater possibility to splitting the nail. That's a whole different situation.

Q: What floors are best for captive elephants? Are there any flooring conditions that promote foot problems?
A: Concrete is the worst situation for elephants, in fact for any animal including humans. I know that there are new materials that I am told of that does the job but I have found that a good oak hardwood has kept my elephants in good shape. It has to be replaced from time to time but I have found it excellent. Soft wood (pines, etc.) would have to be replaced more often and would be more susceptible to bacteria.

Q: Do captive elephants require a certain amount of exercise (i.e. walking) to maintain healthy feet?
A: They should have a minimum of walking daily. I have found that it is up to individual if it is in an uncontrolled situation (in a small pen). In open area I find that they walk as much as they want to. In a performing situation, that in itself is more than enough exercise.

Q: What industry / professional standards are available for elephant care and husbandry?
Q: Are there any other health or care issues related to elephants that should be specifically addressed to the AWA standards?

Polack Brothers Circus, Gary, IN. 1969

Polack Brothers Circus, Ft Wayne, IN., Feb. 22, 1969

Iron Jaw

Hills Great London Circus, Delavin, WI - June 1971

Hills Great London Circus,
Delavin, WI - June 1971
Beenie and Tory doing the Head Spin routine.

This was the only 3-ring circus that I produced.

In the early winter of '71 Gordon Yadon of the CFA in Delivan called me one day and asked if I would produce a circus for his chapter. He told me that his CFA members would cooperate and help in any way thay could. They sure did.

I started lining up acts that winter on the Shrine dates I was working and when I got home I called Gordon and told him some of the performers I had contracted. He was pleased with my selections. Then he hit me with what would be to me one of the most pleasent news I would have in the circus. He and his members of the CFA were able to get Merle Evans who was retired from the RBBB to lead a live circus band all made up of CFA's.

I was the ringmaster and David Hall worked the Mitie-Mites. He had worked with me for years and with the rest of the show he did a great job. A show I will never forget.

Bertha, Mitie-Mites and Slivers Sparks NV 1966

Bertha, Mitie Mites and Slivers Sparks NV 1966

This was the first year on the road for the Mitie-Mites. We were playing dates in the northwest and with a few days off and close to Sparks we visited Slivers.

Cat Girl and Denny

Denny was our first elephant in April of 1963. We knew nothing about elephants and hired several so called elephant trainers. We ended up with a man that had been a groom to Mac McDonald. His name was Joe Orth. Denise and I learned a lot from him and either of us could handle and work her.

We worked her as a single until 1966. When we decided to form a 3 act we used Denny as lead but she was much bigger than the other punks. We sold her in 1966 to Charlie Kelton of Wt. River Jct. VT.

Denny

This picture was taken in March 1963. It was sent to me from Bangkok a month before she arrived.

I originally imported her to sell. I advertised her and had all kinds of calls. Everyone was interested until I told them she was a bottle baby. I was stuck with her. The best thing that ever happened to me.

Slivers

Had a few days off between dates and visited with Slivers. He was always dressed impecably so I called him "Dandy Dan".

Another Performance Photo

This photo was taken in 1970 right after I left the Polack Bros. Circus. The Mitie-Mites were growing and Beenie (Chimp) were doing well. We went back to independant dates.

Performance Photo

This photo was taken on the Polack Bros. Circus in 1969. Tory in the center in a stretch position, Onyx on her right in the "T" mount, Stella in the back, Dutchess on her left in the "T" mount.

When I went over to the Polack Show with the Mitie-Mites, I also inherited Fran the elephant girl on the show. In the past when a producer insisted on me having an elephant girl most of them turned out to be a pain. They just couldn't get it through their head that the elephants were the star of the act. That was one of reasons I trained Beenie (chimp) to be my elephant girl. After all she could do a lot more than they could. As it turned out Fran was not only a great asset to the act but a wonderful person to work with.

Mitie Mites

These are the Mitie Mites in 1966. At their first performance in Ft Wayne, IN. Total combined weight was 965 lbs. Left to Right.... Tory, Onyx and Dutchess. Their height ranged from Tory being 38" to Dutchess being 31". They were center ring with the Diano Heard on our left ring handled by Paul and Dotty Kelly, on our right was The Castle Elephants handled by Bert Pettis and his daughter Sandy Pettis.