Packy (elephant)
Encyclopedia
Packy is an Asian elephant
at the Oregon Zoo
in Portland, Oregon
, United States. He is famous for being the first elephant born in the Western Hemisphere
in almost 45 years. Currently, he is the tallest and oldest, male Asian elephant in the United States, and perhaps one of the tallest worldwide.
, around 1952. His father, Thonglaw, was born in Cambodia
around 1947. Both were captured and brought to Morgan Berry, an elephant trainer in Seattle, Washington in 1959. Belle became pregnant with Packy on July 19, 1960, at the Woodland Park Zoo
. This went undiscovered for a year. Meanwhile, both eight-year-old Belle and thirteen-year-old Thonglaw, along with Berry's other female, five-year-old Pet, were being transferred between Seattle and Portland every year. In summer 1961, they found out about Belle's pregnancy, although they decided not to tell the public until she gave birth. However, in January 1962, Belle went into false labor, so zoo staff decided to release the news to the public. Portlanders learned of the pregnancy through an Oregonian
article, and citizens eagerly anticipated the birth. Then, late at night on April 13, Belle entered labor. On April 14, 1962, at 5:58 a.m., after 21 months of pregnancy and five hours of labor, Belle gave birth to a male calf, and, following a contest, he was named Packy. Visitors from all over the world flocked to Portland to see the famous baby elephant. Countless circuses and zoos wanted to buy Belle and Packy, but Berry declined all offers, except for Portland's. After Portland raised enough money and made the purchase, Morgan Berry donated Thonglaw and Pet to keep the herd intact.
Meanwhile, Thonglaw had also impregnated Pet, as well as Portland's own two females, Rosy and Tuy Hoa. On October 3, 1962, Rosy gave birth to a female, named Me-Tu. On September 15 of the following year, Pet gave birth to a male called Dino, and on September 24, Tuy Hoa gave birth to a female called Hanako.
Packy has sired seven calves:
Of all of Packy's calves' mothers, only Hanako is still alive. Rosy died in 1993, Me-Tu in 1996, and Pet in 2006. Packy is the current patriarch of the Oregon Zoo's elephant herd, his daughter Shine is the matriarch. His son Rama has been designated Packy's successor. None of Packy's offspring have had any progeny of their own, though the three survivors have all been cleared for breeding.
Asian Elephant
The Asian or Asiatic elephant is the only living species of the genus Elephas and distributed in Southeast Asia from India in the west to Borneo in the east. Three subspecies are recognized — Elephas maximus maximus from Sri Lanka, the Indian elephant or E. m. indicus from mainland Asia, and E. m....
at the Oregon Zoo
Oregon Zoo
The Oregon Zoo, formerly the Washington Park Zoo, is a zoo in Portland, the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Located southwest of Downtown Portland, the zoo is inside Portland's Washington Park, and includes a narrow-gauge railway that connects to the International Rose Test Garden inside...
in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, United States. He is famous for being the first elephant born in the Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
in almost 45 years. Currently, he is the tallest and oldest, male Asian elephant in the United States, and perhaps one of the tallest worldwide.
Packy's History
Packy's mother, Belle, was wild-born in ThailandThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, around 1952. His father, Thonglaw, was born in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
around 1947. Both were captured and brought to Morgan Berry, an elephant trainer in Seattle, Washington in 1959. Belle became pregnant with Packy on July 19, 1960, at the Woodland Park Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo
Woodland Park Zoo is a zoological garden around the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. Occupying the western half of Woodland Park, the zoo began as a small menagerie on the estate of Guy C. Phinney, a Canadian-born lumber mill owner and real estate developer...
. This went undiscovered for a year. Meanwhile, both eight-year-old Belle and thirteen-year-old Thonglaw, along with Berry's other female, five-year-old Pet, were being transferred between Seattle and Portland every year. In summer 1961, they found out about Belle's pregnancy, although they decided not to tell the public until she gave birth. However, in January 1962, Belle went into false labor, so zoo staff decided to release the news to the public. Portlanders learned of the pregnancy through an Oregonian
The Oregonian
The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850...
article, and citizens eagerly anticipated the birth. Then, late at night on April 13, Belle entered labor. On April 14, 1962, at 5:58 a.m., after 21 months of pregnancy and five hours of labor, Belle gave birth to a male calf, and, following a contest, he was named Packy. Visitors from all over the world flocked to Portland to see the famous baby elephant. Countless circuses and zoos wanted to buy Belle and Packy, but Berry declined all offers, except for Portland's. After Portland raised enough money and made the purchase, Morgan Berry donated Thonglaw and Pet to keep the herd intact.
Meanwhile, Thonglaw had also impregnated Pet, as well as Portland's own two females, Rosy and Tuy Hoa. On October 3, 1962, Rosy gave birth to a female, named Me-Tu. On September 15 of the following year, Pet gave birth to a male called Dino, and on September 24, Tuy Hoa gave birth to a female called Hanako.
Adulthood
Thonglaw died on November 25, 1974, from a drug reaction to anesthesia. He sired 14 calves besides Packy. Belle died on April 22, 1997, of a foot infection. She did not have any other offspring.Packy has sired seven calves:
- Unnamed male calf, born to Packy and Me-Tu on May 10, 1975 at Los Angeles ZooLos Angeles ZooThe Los Angeles Zoo , is a zoo founded in 1966 and located in Los Angeles, California. The City of Los Angeles owns the entire zoo, its land and facilities, and the animals...
, died December 2. - Unnamed female calf, born to Packy and Hanako on February 17, 1976 at Oregon Zoo, died March 5.
- Sumek, a female born to Packy and Hanako on March 15, 1978 at Oregon Zoo, died April 29.
- Khun-Chorn, a male born to Packy and Me-Tu on May 19, 1978 at Oregon Zoo, currently lives at Dickerson Park ZooDickerson Park ZooDickerson Park Zoo is a zoo in Springfield, Missouri, United States. It was established by the Springfield Park Board in 1922, and was initially developed with the help of WPA labor and funds in the 1930s....
. - Thongtrii, a male born to Packy and Rosy on October 5, 1979, at Oregon Zoo, transferred to Fresno, California in 1981, died February 1, 1993.
- Sung-Surin "Shine", a female born to Packy and Pet on December 26, 1982 at Oregon Zoo where she currently lives.
- Rama, a male born to Packy and Rosy on April 1, 1983, at Oregon Zoo, where he lives today.
Of all of Packy's calves' mothers, only Hanako is still alive. Rosy died in 1993, Me-Tu in 1996, and Pet in 2006. Packy is the current patriarch of the Oregon Zoo's elephant herd, his daughter Shine is the matriarch. His son Rama has been designated Packy's successor. None of Packy's offspring have had any progeny of their own, though the three survivors have all been cleared for breeding.
Packy And Me
Packy And Me is the written story of Packy's delivery at the Oregon Zoo. It is given from the point of view of Dr. Maberry, the veterinarian that delivered Packy.External links
- Packy's history
- Packy at Oregon Blue Book
- http://packyandme.com Packy And Me - TThe Incredible Tale of Dr. Maberry and the Baby Elephant Who Made History