TZ Productions takes great pride in the care that our animals receive and the conservation efforts we take to ensure that our patrons continue to have the option of witnessing our beautiful circus animals.  Our performances contain both domestic and exotic animals on a regular basis.  We are proud that our circus has been a leader in animal care techniques and research.  Our circus’ animal care standards exceed governmental regulation, and provide a harmonious haven in which humans and animals can live and work together.  Our circus animals are spared the trials and dangers of fighting for survival in the wild.

The elephants you may see in our current performances are female Asian elephants.  They inhabit the forests of India and Southeast Asia, including a small area of the Island of Borneo.  Elephants have lived everywhere, except Australia and Antarctica, from sea level to heights of more than 12,000 feet, in habitats ranging from deserts to rain forests to glaciers.  Forest-dwelling elephants spend most of their lives in the shade.  Elephants are at home in deep water and can swim for six hours at a time.

In elephant society, bulls (males) and cows (females) do not live together in family herds.  Instead, bulls spend most of their time alone or in the company of other bulls, while cows and calves are normally seen together.  An old female, known as the matriarch, who is likely to be a grandmother or even a great-grandmother, leads such cow and calf herds. 

Human populations, desperate for wood products, farmland, and living space and ivory, have crowded these animals out of their natural habitat.

During the 19th Century British and Dutch colonialists began clearing dense jungles and slaughtering elephants to cultivate the world – famous Ceylonese tea.

About 20 years ago, poaching of elephants was rampant.  As many as 300 elephants a day were being slaughtered for their tusks.  Ivory is certainly a beautiful substance-smooth and cool to the touch, easily carved but durable.  If the raw material was collected from elephants that had died of old age, when their tusks had reached their maximum size, who could object?  Sadly, however the truth is that more blood-both human and elephant has been spilled in the quest for this “white gold” than for any other raw material.

Studies have shown that elephants live longer traveling in circuses than they do in zoos or in the wild as they have a constant change of scenery that helps stimulate these intelligent animals.  The exercise that they get from performing and giving elephant rides keeps them physically healthy and improves their longevity.

They are fed daily and watered at least 5 times a day.  Their diet consists of grain, hay (which they have 24 hours a day), fresh fruits and vegetables.  They are bathed daily and their toenails are trimmed once a month.

At home our elephants have 10 acres and a pond to play in when the weather permits.  In bad weather they have a large indoor exercise area.

Our training methods are based on positive reinforcement, such as food rewards and words of praise.  The relationship between animals and humans is built on mutual respect, trust and affection.

The greatest and most widespread issue today is the welfare and preservation of these precious elephants and tigers.  All of the elephants that you see today have been acquired in strict accordance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) treaty to which the United States and other countries are party.  

We are visited regularly by the United States Department of Agriculture, which carefully reviews our housing, feeding, housekeeping and ventilation practices.

We feel it is important that you respect these animals as wild creatures and join us in supporting conservation of all endangered wildlife.

Patricia Zerbini has 20 plus years of experience.  Besides working and being raised by her father, Tarzan Zerbini, Patricia has worked in the elephant department for Ringling Brothers and she spent 3 years in Germany working elephants for Circus Krone. 

Anthony Zerbini has spent the last 23 year under the tutelage of his Mother, Patricia Zerbini.  He has worked for his grandfather, Tarzan Zerbini, Garden Brothers Circus and Ringling Brothers Circus just to name a few.

If you would like more information about preservation and protection of these beautiful animals please ask one of the trainers – Anthony Zerbini or Patricia Zerbini or write Circus Office at 2317 S Hall St, Webb City, MO 64870.