Packy's History

Packy put Portland on the map in 1962 when he made international news for being the first elephant born in the Western Hemisphere in over 44 years.

Packys parents were Thonglaw and Belle. Thonglaw was wild-born in Cambodia in 1947 and Belle was wild-born in Bangkok in 1952. Thonglaw died in 1974 and Belle died in 1997.

Portlanders first learned of Belles pregnancy and the impending birth through an article in THE OREGONIAN in January, and the city came alive with anticipation. Belle Bulletins and a Name the Baby contest were aired by local radio stations. Stuffed elephants appeared in toy departments and school children made drawings of what they thought the baby would look like. For three months zoo veterinarian Dr. Matthew Maberry literally lived in the elephant house, keeping a close watch on the maternity ward.

The big event happened at 5:58 a.m. on April 14, and the news about the 225-pound baby spread rapidly. Newspapers and radio stations around the world announced the birth to readers and listeners, and LIFE magazine covered the event with an eleven-page spread. Baby gifts flooded the zoo, everything from gold-plated safety pins to hand-knitted garments. Visitors flocked to see the new pachyderm and attendance soared, setting an all-time high.

Packy is now the largest Asian elephant in the United States. He stands 106 at the shoulder and weighs approximately 13,500 pounds.

Oregon Zoo is famous the world over for its prolific Asian elephants. Twenty-seven calves have been born here, with fifteen sired by Thonglaw, seven by Packy, one by Tunga and four by Hugo.

Packy is the only second-generation captive bull to breed successfully in world zoo history. Two of his offspring, Sung Surin and Rama, are still at the zoo.

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