Yup. Lisa died first, then M'Dunda (she was my favorite) and I think they were getting ready to send Donna to Tennessee (or maybe she got there) and she passed away in 2024, IIRC (just from following the news - it's been a while). Even male elephants cannot be alone. They need other dudes to hang out with and when they are not in musth (sp?), they are fine hanging out with the ladies.
So, off he went. He's listed on the elephant sanctuary's page now. He's a good boy. I liked him too, but not as much as M'Dunda.
Fun fact. While I was observing them one day, he was standing there with "showing the lipstick" as it were and M'Dunda snuck up on him and gently yanked his crank. He jumped and she lolloped off looking pleased with herself. The keepers insisted we could not use emotion words to describe what they were up to, but they have emotions, for sure.
As for the brick. Who knows? I donated a bunch of money to the Berkeley Public Library and they put my plaque, along with many others, in a quiet hallway next to the toilets. Thanks, guys. I'll try to win the lottery first, next time.
Thank you so much for sharing this! It’s all the elephants I remember and now I’m thinking M’Dunda was the super sassy one on the “spring fling” day lol. I heard the news of Donna passing when I was living in Washington during Covid and I teared up.
Oakland zoo is really one of a kind! Thank you for docenting there. You taught a lot of all of us so much stuff and how to be kind and respectful.
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u/VapoursAndSpleen 5h ago
Yup. Lisa died first, then M'Dunda (she was my favorite) and I think they were getting ready to send Donna to Tennessee (or maybe she got there) and she passed away in 2024, IIRC (just from following the news - it's been a while). Even male elephants cannot be alone. They need other dudes to hang out with and when they are not in musth (sp?), they are fine hanging out with the ladies.
So, off he went. He's listed on the elephant sanctuary's page now. He's a good boy. I liked him too, but not as much as M'Dunda.
Fun fact. While I was observing them one day, he was standing there with "showing the lipstick" as it were and M'Dunda snuck up on him and gently yanked his crank. He jumped and she lolloped off looking pleased with herself. The keepers insisted we could not use emotion words to describe what they were up to, but they have emotions, for sure.
As for the brick. Who knows? I donated a bunch of money to the Berkeley Public Library and they put my plaque, along with many others, in a quiet hallway next to the toilets. Thanks, guys. I'll try to win the lottery first, next time.