THE BALLOON MAN

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus devise elephant warmers due to recent storm

Caretaker Joey Frisco feeds his charges. / Photo provided

From: courierpostonline.com

Feb. 14, 2014 

FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT THE ELEPHANTS — Even elephants need warmth on a snowy winter’s day.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus devised a plan to keep the pachyderms comfortable in Philadelphia for Thursday’s storm.

Ringling’s Legends circus is at the city’s Wells Fargo Center for seven more performances through Sunday.

Extra precautions are being taken to make sure all of the animals are warm between performances.

The elephants stay cozy with the help of large heaters blowing warm air into their tents, keeping the temperature at 75 degrees, said Nathanael Harris, senior marketingmanager, Wells Fargo Center/Comcast Spectacor.

“All nine elephants are watched around the clock by a team of 15 caretakers in their 140-foot-long by 40-foot-wide by 30-foot-high tent,” he said in an email.

Elephants are highly intelligent and , able to respond to as many as 60 verbal commands. They can recognize human and animal friends after years of separation.

A Ringling Bros. calf weighs an average of 300 pounds at birth, and 22 calves have been born at the circus’ Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida.

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http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20140214/NEWS01/302140022/Ringling-Bros-Barnum-Bailey-Circus-devise-elephant-warmers-due-recent-storm