Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Queenie The Water-Skiing Elephant Dies At 59
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 5, 2011
Modified Jun 5, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 5, 2011
Modified Jun 5, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
As if we weren't sad enough yesterday over the death of Ida, one of the Central Park Zoo's polar bears, there's been another death in the extended animal family: Queenie, the water-skiing elephant who gained international acclaim in the 50s and 60s for her unique abilities, has died at the age of 59. Check out video of her below:
When Queenie was six months old (and weighed 250 pounds), she was purchased by her former owner Liz Dane in a NYC pet store in 1953. "I knew we were going to a pet store, but had no idea about the true purpose of the trip,” Dane described of that fateful visit. She spotted the elephant among the dogs and cats, and fell in love: “Dad asked if that was the pet I would like to bring home, and I, of course, said ‘YES!’”
Dane trained and performed with Queenie at a Florida theme park for the next 14 years, teaching her to water-ski as well as play the harmonica. After Dane's father died, and she was preparing to go off to college, she decided Queenie should be with other elephants; later in life she ended up at Wild Adventures. Dane and Queenie eventually reunited in 2005: “I spoke her name and her ears went out. She smelled my hands and then my feet. It was as if we had never been apart. I cried; she stood there touching me with her trunk.”
Dane told WALB that she was "extremely sad" by Queenie's death: "I cried but then when I reflected back on things I realized that it was news I was bracing myself for."
But as the Daily What points out, there's one element to this story which deserves extra attention: people really used to purchase elephants from pet stores in NYC!! It seems likely that Dane purchased Queenie from Henry Trefflich, a famous animal collector in the 40s through the late 60s whose home base was a three-story building on Fulton Street in Manhattan. You could buy everything from a hamster to a baby elephant there. Here's a funny little anecdote about Trefflich from Newsday:
Trefflich was a bit of a showman as well. It is rumored that whenever New York had a slow news week, some odd animal would always seem to escape from Trefflich's Pet Store, and its adventures through the city streets and eventual recapture would net him some free publicity.
Tagged
animal
death
elephant
queenie
water-skiing
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
Before they attempt to fend off LeBron James and the 76ers on Tuesday, the Knicks will have a chance to show off their winning mentality through their tunnel fits.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 19, 2026
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .