Our Animals - Elephants - Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Colonel Joe

The largest Indian bull-elephant in the world celebrates his birthday. Not any birthday, rather his 40th !

Great excitement in the manège of the Circus Krone.
A birthday cake of a special type prepared by the staff: kilos of
apples, bananas and pineapples, garnished by cases of lettuce.

The uncommon birthday kid:
Colonel Joe, the largest bull-elephant in the world.
Befitting his stature Colonel Joe was presented a gigantic
fruit salad in the manege of Europe's largest circus in Köln.
Musically accompanied by the "Happy-Birthday-Song" by
Circus Krone's visitors. The massive pachyderm was
accompanied by his trainer, James Puydebois, who has
cared for the large animal for over 15 years. "It was circus-
love at first sight", recalling his first rendezvous with the elephant.

Born in Los Angeles, he now weighs 7 tons, is 3.50 meter tall and possesses 1.50 meter long snow white tusks and is at the prime of his life. Every day he consumes 50 kilograms hay and straw, 40 kg apples and carrots, 20 kg bread and a gigantic compressed oat bran musli. "Washed down" with 150 liters of waters a day. His favorite meal is pineapple with Creme Fraiche.

The most prominent gratulatory wishes in the Cathedral City were extended by the Show- Master Hans Meiser, who visited Circus Krone for the third time. The table is prepared. The table is laden with fruit. Hans Meiser greets the imposing Birthday kid and offers him his favorite meal: pineapple in large quantities.

For pineapples, he does everything:
Colonel Joe and Hans Meiser at at the fruitiest Birthday party of all time.

Truly a feared guest in every vegetarian restaurant!! (Naturally, Colonel Joe is referred to :-) First advances by Hans Meiser & Colonel Joe.

Photographs: Maximilian Zwick and Dr. Susanne Matzenau

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