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Two Asian Elephant Cows CC and Patience Posing With Elephant KeeperOn a recent trip to Dickerson Park Zoo we found Mr. Glazier cleaning the elephant quarters. While he was sweeping CC, the oldest of Dickerson Park Zoo's cows, pushed the door open to get in to where Jeff was. She was in a playful mood so he took a moment and walked with her outside. She wanted his attention and he was happy to give it to her. Mr. Glazier has been very instrumental to the success of Dickerson Park Zoos Asian Elephant Breeding Program. Springfield Missouri is very blessed to have Jeff Glazier!! We hope you enjoy the photo and FREE jigsaw puzzles.
CC was obviously happy to have his time and attention, that she had tried so diligently to get. She trotted right along behind him with quite a bounce in her step. Patience joined in right behind them, also with a bounce in her step. It was fun to see them enjoying themselves. Mr. Glazier just pointed his hand around and asked them to salute. WOW, instantly they were in the above pose you see in the photo. Mr. Glazier and the 2 elephants played for a few minutes together. When it was time for Mr. Glazier to get back to work, the elephants bounced along behind him as if to say, "....wait wait we still want to play..." When he went back in to work and closed the big elephant door behind him both elephants stood there at the door as if in protest of his leaving them. We here in Springfield, Missouri are very very blessed to have Mr. Glazier at Dickerson Park Zoo. He is so devoted to the Asian Elephants there and to the preservation of the Asian elephant specie. In September 1979, when Mr. Glazier first joined the staff at Dickerson Park Zoo there was only one Asian elephant. That was CC. She shared a small building and small yard with a female hippo. Shortly thereafter in February of 1980 they were joined by a 20 month old Asian elephant bull calf, Mr. Ed. Mr. Ed quickly became attached to Mr. Glazier. They even played throwing a ball to each other. Now as you will see from our other photos, Mr. Ed likes to throw "STUFF." At that time they had recently built a new elephant / giraffe building which is still in use. Soon after Mr. Ed came, Big Mac arrived. Big Mac was a 15 year old Asian elephant bull. From these meager beginnings it is absolutely amazing, simply astounding how far they have come. The success they have achieved... I am in awe!! Working with Asian Elephant Breeding programs is NOT an easy task. The males as they become adults at times are extremely difficult to deal with. What an accomplishment for a zoo this size. Personally I would like to thank Mr. Glazier for his dedication to these magnificent animals and for staying with our local zoo for so long. I THINK he has been at Dickerson Park Zoo for 25 years. That in itself is wonderful, but what he has done with the Asian elephants... AGAIN WOW is all I can think of to say. That is dedication. His experience I am sure attributed MUCH to the success in the Asian elephant breeding program at Dickerson Park Zoo. So THANK YOU Mr. Glazier!! We are so proud to have YOU & Dickerson Park Zoo here in Springfield !! Dickerson Park Zoo was the 5th zoo in the ENTIRE Northern Hemisphere to breed Asian elephants!! What a feat for a zoo as small as Dickerson Park Zoo was back then. Portland, Oregon was the 1st zoo. Here at Dickerson Park Zoo 24 Asian elephant cows have came through the Asian elephant Breeding Program at Dickerson Park Zoo with wonderful successes to show for it. Dickerson Park Zoo has enjoyed 6 live births and were deeply sadden at 3 still births. Also they shared the joy as other Asian elephant cows that had been bred at Dickerson Park Zoo and then went home and had their babies at other zoos! Those 3 babies are now located in the following zoos: Seattle Zoo, Chicago's Lincoln Park and St. Louis Zoo has Rajah. (By the way, Raja is all grown up and is expecting his first baby now) In 1997 Dickerson Park Zoo received the Bean Award given by AZA for long term breeding success. Very few zoos take on this type of commitment. Especially zoos this size.
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