Anna May
Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) at
Riddles Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary in United States

Biography
dead elephant ☨ ♀ Anna May  dead elephant


Alternative name: May

Identification

SSP nr605

Description

Species:Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)
Sex and age:Female ♀ 57 years old

People killed:1: Mary Herman, 30, a friend of Ben Williams
Origin
Born:* 1947 wild
Birth place:
Death
Dead: 2004-12-21
Death reason: unknown:
Locations - owners
Present / last location:Riddles Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary, in United States

Date of arrival

2004-05-21Riddles Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary
from William Buckles Woodcock

1966-00-00William Buckles Woodcock
from Smokey Jones (Robert Jones)

1964-00-00Smokey Jones (Robert Jones)
from William H. Woodcock

1951-00-00William H. Woodcock
from Kelly Miller Circus

1950-00-00Kelly Miller Circus
from Polack Brothers Circus

Record history
History of updates2020-11-03

Latest document update2023-03-03 16:38:48
Google map
Random literature
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases,

† Anna May is a dead Female ♀ Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), , who died 2004-12-21 at Riddles Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary, in United States, .

Affiliated people

1: William "Buckles" Woodcock (owner from 1966 to 2004)




Origin

Anna May was born wild 1947.


Comments / pictures

"I have told the story many times of how we came into possession of "Anna May". D.R. Miller ordered three baby elephants for the Miller-Woodcock elephant act in 1951 and after they arrived at the NY Central Park Zoo, my dad flew up from the show to check them out. Unfortunately, one had a crippled hind leg and he only returned with two, "Fannie" and "Lydia". The act was already booked with Siebrand Shows for the following season so D.R. relucantly let him borrow "Anna May" and the rest is History.
Williams Buckles Woodcock


Before audiences ranging from Madison Square Garden to the Ed Sullivan Show and the Hollywood Palace, Mr. Williams coaxed Anna May - billed as the "world's smartest performing elephant" - through hoof- and headstands, playing the tambourine, carrying people in her mouth or serving as a springboard for leopards. It was a bond for the ages. But in 1982, a bizarre incident nearly dissolved the partnership with Anna May and ended Mr. Williams' career.

The body of Mary Herman, 30, a friend of Mr. Williams', was found dead of a "crushing-type injury," authorities in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., said. Authorities charged Mr. Williams and another trainer with first-degree murder.

They later found the real culprit was Anna May, who had been startled by Herman's visit to her trailer. Anna May swatted the woman with her trunk, killing her. Authorities dropped the charges, even though Mr. Williams admitted hiding the body.

"He was afraid they were going to kill the elephant," said Buckles Woodcock, 74. "He carried that with him."
Reference list

References

Koehl, Dan, (2024). Anna May, Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) located at Riddles Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary in United States. Elephant Encyclopedia, available online retrieved 29 March 2024 at https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=1704. (archived at the Wayback machine)


Sources used for this article is among others:

Links

Relevant links

Internal relevant links

External relevant links (Opens in new window)

Search more on the web for Anna May

(The name Anna May is already submitted into the link, just click on the link for relevant results)


Categories2004 deaths | 1947 births | Elephants from Riddles Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary | United States | Mankillers | Asian elephants


About this documentThis document was updated: 2023-03-03 16:38:48 with valid HTML5 Valid CSS


Elephant Encyclopedia and database
ELEPHANT
ENCYCLOPEDIA

Established 1995
ELEPHANT
DATABASE
Established 2006
Your ip: 34.228.239.171
Kulen Elephant Forest