1998—MONA THE ELEPHANT
Since 1956, Mona has been the top featured educational attraction as the mascot of goodwill at the El Paso Zoo. Millions of El Pasoans and out-of-town visitors learn about the natural elegance and charm of elephants by watching Mona's 20+ commands and behaviors.
Voted one of Texas' Top Billed Beasts in the June 1990 issue of Texas Monthly, Mona celebrates her 47th birthday this year. At four tons, she's never been bred and is too mature to start now.
Her new home in the recently unveiled Asian Exhibit gives Mona (an Asian elephant) seven times the space of her former digs, with 48,000 sq.ft., two yards (one as an exhibit and one for exercise/workouts) and access to an eight-foot deep pool for relaxation and swimming.
With relatively poor eye-sight and hearing, elephants have very thick skin that's sensitive to insect bites and the sun. That's why they bathe themselves in dirt or sand to provide sun and insect protection. With one-finger trunks, Asians can perform a variety of tasks, from hauling logs to picking up quarters off the ground. They can live up to 80 years, but lifespans depend on teeth. When sets of teeth are used up, elephants starve to death.
Asian ears, smaller than African ears, work like air conditioners with an intricate network of blood vessels running close to the surface. By flapping they can cool the blood supply, and themselves.
About 15,000 endangered Asian elephants remain in the wild. Sought for the ivory tusks of males, the elephants are rapidly losing their habitat to man. Conservation efforts and breeding programs in zoos have led to great success in raising young Asian elephants in captivity.
The El Paso Animal Hall of Fame proudly recognizes Mona for her countless contributions that enrich the lives of El Pasoans and our visitors.
1999—CHARLIE
Beloved Mascot, The David L. Carrasco Job Corps Center
Charlie, a pure white German shepherd mix, dedicated 11 years of his life to the love and support of staff and disadvantaged youth enrolled in the Job Corps programs. Officially adopted as Center Mascot on Sept. 21, 1985, Charlie became a significant part of Center life. His abusive history prior to joining the Center served as a weekly symbol to the Orientation class. His story was told to new students, who compared the cutting of the large chain that had embedded itself under the flesh of Charlie's neck, to whatever obstacles had hindered the realization of the student's full potential.
Suffering from malnutrition, occult heartworm disease and a rampant infection from the heavy choke chain, Charlie was discovered tied to a tree by neighbor and Center Director David L. Carrasco. After several failed attempts to get help for Charlie's failing condition from his neglectful owner, Carrasco cut the chain himself and sought veterinary help. Twenty stitches later, he was able to keep the large, lucky dog. The Center's Government Association immediately and unanimously adopted Charlie.
The most needy of the Center's student population gravitated to membership in the Charlie Club, which was responsible for all aspects of his care. Student relationships with Charlie proved invaluable in developing their full potential. They related to Charlie, who like them came from the school of hard knocks. If no one else could break through, Charlie would bring out their soft side. When young men came in acting tough, staff left them with Charlie. If they started petting him, they knew the student would make it.
Considering he was the mascot for an educational institution, Charlie attended and graduated third in his class at Animal House Obedience School. He became a media darling with highly publicized commemorations of his Job Corps anniversaries as well as many other Center events he attended, including basketball games, parades, visits to nursing homes and elderly shut-ins as well as Center-produced stage productions.
Like many of the Center's students, the almost fatally injured dog overcame his obstacles and transformed into a happy, healthy, star attraction at Job Corps. On Oct. 1, 1996, Charlie left his extended Job Corps family, a victim of crippling arthritis of the spine. He is buried on the Center's athletic field, his favorite place to run.
Charlie is still an on-going legacy at Job Corps. A returning and now highly successful student recently looked around the office Charlie shared with Carrasco and said, "There is only one thing missing from this picture... and that's Charlie. He was here to welcome me to the Center and he should be on that couch now as I leave."
The El Paso Animal Hall of Fame proudly recognizes Charlie for his countless contributions that enriched the lives of thousands of El Pasoans. He remains alive in the loving hearts of all who knew him.
