Benny (Dumbo) an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) at Toluca Zoo (Zoologico de Zacango)

☨ Benny (Dumbo)
ID Number:   SSP Number: 330 - 
Species: Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)
Sex and age:Male ♂ 25 years old
Dead date: † 2016-12-26
Death reason: unknown: kidney problem?
Location:Toluca Zoo (Zoologico de Zacango)
ArrivalToluca Zoo (Zoologico de Zacango) 2002-00-00
from Circo Hermanos Vazquez
Circo Hermanos Vazquez 2000-04-01
from Trunks and Humps (Bill Swain)
Trunks and Humps (Bill Swain) 1999-00-00
from Circus Vargas
Circus Vargas 1996-00-00
from Trunks and Humps (Bill Swain)
Trunks and Humps (Bill Swain) 1992-11-00
from Roman Schmitt Busch Garden
Roman Schmitt Busch Garden 1992-09-11
from Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium 1992-04-26
from Roman Schmitt Busch Garden
Born:* 1991-12-19 captive-born
in Roman Schmitt Busch Garden
Parents: Vance (Matt) x Josky (Patne)
Siblings through the father Vance (Matt):
  1. 1983-09-09(M) Roman
  2. 1983-11-23(F) Targa
  3. 1984-02-02(M) Smokey (Rhani, Ronnie)
  4. 1985-11-24(M) Luke (Sabu)
  5. 1987-01-22(M) Bo (Joe, Kalanan)
  6. 1987-04-02 -- † 2006 (M) Ceasar
  7. 1987-10-10 -- † 2009-05-15 (M) Ned (Indy, India)
  8. 1988-01-16(M) Hank
  9. 1988-12-30(F) Angel (Alice)
  10. 1989-07-21 -- † 1989-07-21 (M) stillborn
  11. 1989-08 -- † 1989-08 (M) stillborn
  12. 1990-04-13(F) Karnaudi
  13. 1991-01-06 -- † 1999-04-21 (F) Belle
  14. 1992-04-04(F) Tanya
  15. 1992-04-17 -- † 2006-01--31 (F) Maya (Sammi, Sami, Samuel R II)
  16. 1992-05-25(M) Tommy (Mickey)
  17. 1992-10-17 -- † 1992-10-17 (F) stillborn
  18. 1994-08-19 -- † 1998 (M) Kenny (Kenneth)
  19. 1994-10-29(F) Bonnie
  20. 1995-02-03 -- † 1999-07-26 (M) Benjamin
  21. 1995-02-19(F) Shirley
  22. 1996-01-01(F) Kelly Ann
Siblings through the mother Josky (Patne):
  1. 1984-00-00(F) Luna (Nancy)
  2. 1987-10-10 -- † 2009-05-15 (M) Ned (Indy, India)
  3. 1995-02-03 -- † 1999-07-26 (M) Benjamin
  4. 2002-05-21(M) P.T.
Benny (Dumbo)s pedigree:
P I II III

Benny (Dumbo)

Sire:
Vance (Matt)

 Sire:
 Sire:
Dame:
Dame:
 Sire:
Dame:

Dame:
Josky (Patne)

 Sire:
 Sire:
Dame:
Dame:
 Sire:
Dame:
Document updated2009-01-01: Name, Text, Source
2009-03-01:�Text
2009-03-29:�Current location, Text
2009-03-31:�Text
2009-04-29:�Text, Image
2010-05-19:�text
2016-12-29: dead
2018-03-16: death reason? removed picture of Ramos
Contrary to some reports, Benny was not castrated.
Benny was bought by the Vasquez Circus from Trunks & Humps for $40,000. He was smuggled from Texas to Mexico by the Mexican circus owner, who bribed Mexican customs officers with $4,500 to sneak the elephant across the border. He was confiscated from the circus in 2002 and transferred to the Toluca Zoo.


There were two enclosures for Asian elephants. In one was a pair, Ted, a tusked bull about 50 years old, and Bee, a female of about 60; in the other was a lone tuskless bull, Ramos, about 50 years old. All three were donations from a Mexican circus, and had narrowly escaped being destroyed because they killed their trainer and another person. (I am not sure that the ages given above are correct, but that is what I was told.)
International Zoo News Vol. 47/1 (No. 298) January/February 2000

Reference list

Koehl, D., (2020). Benny (Dumbo), an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) at Toluca Zoo (Zoologico de Zacango) in Mexico. Elephant Encyclopedia, available online retrieved 1 October 2020 at https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=4256. (archived at the Wayback machine)

Sources used for this article is among others:

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