Shirley
In nature, elephants begin mating at age 18. The matriarch, cousins, aunts, and sisters making up a herd protect younger elephants from breeding bulls until they are physically and emotionally ready to raise healthy offspring. The herd’s more experienced mothers also help new mothers with labor and caring for the newborn.

Even though studies show that captive elephants who breed before age 12 have shorter lifespans, Ringling used Shirley for breeding when, at just 7 years old, she was still a child herself. Shirley did not have the benefit of a herd to look after her until she reached maturity or to guide her through birthing and rearing her infant calf, Riccardo. As she went into labor, Shirley was chained by three legs on a cold, hard cement floor, without the comfort of her elephant friends. Obviously in pain, she was further immobilized by a handler controlling her with a bullhook. Because she was restrained and unable to see what was beneath her, she inadvertently kicked Riccardo as he was born. After Riccardo's birth, she tried desperately to reach out with her trunk and touch her newborn, but Ringling staff had already pulled the infant from her reach. Click here to see video of Riccardo’s birth.

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