Queenie - The World’s Only Water Skiing Elephant_Nostalgic USA Reminiscence

Queenie was a captive female Asian elephant and born wild in Thailand in 1952. Her water skiing talents brought her fame and she became the world’s only water skiing elephant during previous century.

After being discover, she was imported to the United States and put on sale in Pet Store in New York. At 6 months of age, Queenie was bought by Bill Green and his daughter Elisabeth, and taken to a private zoo in Vermont. Pre-arrange buying was broadcast by Today Show, American News and talk emission.

Queenie and Elisabeth bond and become attractions for the public. Knowing how to amuse their audience by water skiing, playing harmonica and even dancing, the team gained fame and were presented by State and country fairs, TV shows, and circuses around the country. As Elisabeth stated, Queenie was never mistreated during their exhibitions. She claimed that the elephant loved water skiing. Sometimes she would even put her trunk in water and spray it all over the place because she simply enjoyed playing with water.

During her career, Queenie appeared on many shows, such as The Tonight Show, I’ve Got a Secret, and in a series of printed advertisement for the Mercury outboard motors company. In 1967 Queenie was sold to an “elephant performance team” in Michigan. In 1981 she was sold to Circus Gatti.

Queenie was retired from the Circus Gatti in 2003 and sent to the Wild Adventures theme park in Valdosta, Georgia. In 2011, she was euthanized because of chronic health problems. She was believed to be one of the oldest Asian elephants in North America.”