Former Cleethorpes zoo keeper recalls time he was nearly squashed by an elephant
WHEN lost remnants of Cleethorpes zoo were found buried beneath Pleasure Island, a former zoo keeper's memories of a near-miss with an elephant were unearthed.
John Coman, 65, spent six years as a zoo keeper at Cleethorpes Marineland Zoo, which entertained hordes of visitors during the 1960s and 70s.
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A ZOO KEEPER'S LIFE: John Coman takes Tanya the elephant for a ride.
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LOOKING DOWN: Cleethorpes Marineland and Zoo, pictured on May 13, 1966, as it prepared itself for the season ahead, on the site now occupied by PleasureIsland.
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GREAT MEMORIES: John Coman enjoyed his six years working at Cleethorpes Marineland and Zoo.
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SPLASHING TIME: The killer whale at Cleethorpes Marineland and Zoo in 1969.
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'DREAM JOB': Penny Dolby with Sparky. She looked after the chimps and monkeys at the zoo and is pictured on May 8, 1978.
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SPECIAL GUEST: Young fans gather round actor Tom Baker (Dr Who) for his autograph during his visit to Cleethorpes Zoo on July 23, 1978.
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OFFICIAL OPENING: Marineland at Cleethorpes was opened officially by Johnny Morris, the television personality, on May 29, 1965, though it was obvious that Mr Morris' assistant, Charlie the orangutang, decided it was time he said a few words by taking over the microphone!
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ANIMAL ATTRACTION: Hercules the hippopotamus at Cleethorpes Zoo on March 8, 1979.
He has many fond memories, but when he read the Grimsby Telegraph's article reporting the discovery of the old elephant ring, he was reminded of a scarier time – when he was almost squashed by Tanya the elephant.
John, who met his wife, Suzanne, at the zoo where she worked in Pets Corner, was left with a bruised face and ribcage after Tanya – who was known for her attitude – pushed him against the wall as he chained her up for the night.
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He said: "I bent down and as I did, I touched her leg which made her jump. I stood up and she pushed me into the corner. She started to push, I shouted her name and she took the pressure off. I slid down the wall and crawled out on my hands and knees, waited a few minutes then went back in and quickly chained her up!"
The elephant ring was dug up as contractors build the new Furry Friend's petting zoo opening at the theme park on Friday, March 29.
John thinks Tanya – who often bathed in Cleethorpes sea – had forgotten he was in the pen and got over excited about eating her dustbin full of fruit and vegetables.
He worked with all the animals, his favourite being the chimps, but after his ordeal, his fondness for elephants was replaced with fear and wonder about what could have happened if Tanya hadn't been so forgiving.
And Tanya wasn't the only cranky creature at the zoo, John also had seven stitches in his hand after a close call with a crocodile.
He added: "I was left with a bit of elephant claustrophobia, I didn't like going in their pen. I felt Tanya didn't like me, she liked to have things her way and there were a few times she went to swipe me.
"I often wonder what would have happened if she took no notice of me calling her name – maybe she was going to make a Picasso painting of me, an arm here, a leg there, all over the elephant house wall."
4 Comments
by ambidou
Thursday, March 07 2013, 11:02PM
“Ah yes davendogs, I distinctly remember a wallaby escaping down north sea lane and area, now you come to mention escapes.”
by davendogs
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 12:33PM
“Remember it well. Mostly for everything in there made escape attempts. A lot with success. The wolves was a good one, I wanted to get down there. Mum wouldn't let me so I escaped myself with my teddy bear.”
by eye_eye
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 12:04PM
“Remember the zoo well. Metal turnstile entrance by buck beck side and where sealions were. Recall elephant trying to bash its house wall down. Giant chess sets.
It was a sad end to the zoo, when animals died they were buried on site and when it eventually closed they were mostly shot and buried on site.
Next came the stock car stadium, then now Meggies Disney. Guess they found the animal bones when they excavated the lake?”
by ambidou
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 10:59AM
“Remnants of the marine land and zoo dug up....would this be the animals that were shot and buried (lions. tigers if I recall) when the council demanded money (rates?) from the zoo and it was quickly closed down....just that I was told this by a former employee of the marineland and zoo, and I hope it was not true, ???”