Morgan Berry: Elephant Trainer, History, and Research Sources

Over the course of his career, Morgan Berry, a pioneering elephant trainer in the Pacific Northwest, played a central role in the history behind Elephant Mountain. His work with elephants led to the birth of the famous calf, Packy. In addition, he became one of the largest animal/ elephant import dealers in the United States. Later, he shifted his focus as one of the world’s leading circus animal trainers. This page provides research sources, historical references, and multimedia materials that explore Morgan Berry’s life, legacy, and the mystery surrounding his tragic death.

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Graphic of Morgan Berry: Elephant Trainer History and Research Sources

A Look Back on Elephant Mountain with Elephant Trainer Morgan Berry

Morgan Berry walking a group of baby elephants on Elephant Mountain.

Walking a group of baby elephants on Elephant Mountain.

Side view of Morgan Berry walking baby elephants along a trail on Elephant Mountain.

The baby elephants that will become known as The African Trio and The Tuskers of Thailand, walking with Morgan Elephant Mountain.

Morgan Berry surrounded by a group of baby elephants on Elephant Mountain.

Morgan acclimates baby elephants to the chilly Pacific Northwest weather before their circus training begins.

Morgan Berry surrounded by a group of baby elephants on Elephant Mountain.

Morgan Berry with a baby Tusker in his living room on Elephant Mountain.

Morgan Berry surrounded by a group of baby elephants on Elephant Mountain.

Reading the morning paper to a baby elephant in his living room.

Morgan Berry surrounded by a group of baby elephants on Elephant Mountain.

Keeping a baby elephant warm in his living room on a chilly morning on Elephant Mountain.

Interview with Doc Maberry: The Legacy of Packy and the Elephant Mountain Connection

This historic interview features Oregon Zoo veterinarian Doc Maberry discussing the astronomical impact of Packy’s birth on the city of Portland. The footage includes appearances by Morgan Berry and provides insights into the events that followed.

Morgan Berry’s History

These references provide detailed information about the life of elephant trainer Morgan Berry, documenting key events, locations, and influences referenced in Elephant Mountain.

  1. Alexander, Shana. “Portland Has an Elephant Baby Boom.” Kansas City Star, April 18, 1967, p. 24.
  2. Alexander, Shana. “Belle’s Baby 225 Pounds and All Elephant.” Life Magazine, May 11, 1962, pp. 104-120.
  3. Alexander, Shana. The Astonishing Elephant. New York: Random House, 2000.
  4. “Animal Farm to Hold Open House.” The Lewis River News (Woodland, Washington), July 20, 1967.
  5. Berry, Morgan. Letter to Ted Reed, Director of National Park Zoo, regarding the transfer of Thonglaw and other elephants for breeding purposes. November 8, 1963. Smithsonian Institutional Archives, Washington D.C.
  6. “Berry and Friend (a Camel).” The Lewis River News (Woodland, Washington), January 26, 1967.
  7. Bruns, Emlyn. “Elephant Mountain.” McMenamins Blog, March 21, 2018. https://blog.mcmenamins.com/elephant-mountain/
  8. Federman, Stan. “Did you Know? Facts and Figures about the Washington Park Zoo” The Sunday Oregonian, June 14, 1987, p. 160.
  9. Iliff, Warren. “Morgan Berry Obituary.” Wayne State University Archives, Article 18, December 15, 1980, p. 178.
  10. Lang, Don. “Six Musicians Killed in Crash on One Nighter.” DownBeat, November 1, 1941.
  11. Lewis, George “Slim,” and Byron Fish. I Loved Rogues: The Life of an Elephant Tramp. Seattle: Superior Publishing Company, 1978.
  12. Luck, Marissa. “Through Famed Trainer Packy Had a Link to Cowlitz County.” The Daily News (Longview, Washington), February 14, 2017. https://tdn.com/news/local/through-famed-trainer-packy-had-a-link-to-cowlitz-county/article_0c8e95d4-47da-51b9-a12a-e2d61e785565.html
  13. “Morgan Berry and Bride Will Live in Minneapolis.” Minneapolis Star-Journal, Sept 10, 1939, p. 28.
  14. Moore, Randall Jay, and Christopher Munnion. Back to Africa. Johannesburg: Southern Book Publishers, 1989.
  15. Moore, Randall Jay, and Christopher Munnion. Elephants for Africa. Auckland Park, South Africa: Abu Publications, 2000.
  16. “Portland Takes Its New Baby Elephant Very Big.” St. Cloud Times (St. Cloud, Minnesota), April 19, 1962, p. 11.
  17. Richards, Leverett. “Dream For Sale … If You Want Elephants.” The Oregonian, February 6, 1980, p. 28.
  18. Richards, Leveritt. “Herd of Wild Elephants Roams Through Tall Firs.” The Sunday Oregonian, April 23, 1967.
  19. Richards, Leverett. Elephants Don’t Snore. Vancouver, Washington: Rose Wind Press, 1996.
  20. “10 Baby Elephants Under One-Year Old Expected to Arrive at Elephant Farm.” The Lewis River News (Woodland, Washington), January 26, 1967.
  21. Ullman, Darren. “The Elephant, the Photographer, and the Sheriff.” Cowlitz Historical Quarterly (Kelso, Washington), December, 2011. pp. 36-41.
  22. Ullmann, Darren. “The Elephant, the Photographer, and the Sheriff.” Cowlitz County Law Enforcement History Project (Kelso, Washington), October 23, 2009. http://cclehistory.blogspot.com/2009_10_23_archive.html

Morgan Berry’s Death

Sources detailing the circumstances surrounding the death of Morgan Berry, providing context for events referenced in Elephant Mountain.

  1. Alexander, Shana. The Astonishing Elephant. New York: Random House, 2000.
  2. “Body of Trainer Recovered from Guard of Bull Elephant.” The Daily News (Longview, Washington), June 29, 1979.
  3. Bozarth, Cliff. “Everybody Has a Story: Working on Woodland Elephant Farm was Unusual Job.” The Columbian News (Vancouver, Washington), April 2, 2023. https://www.columbian.com/news/2023/apr/02/everybody-has-a-story-working-on-elephant-farm-was-unusual-job/
  4. Bozarth, Cliff. Interview. Conducted by Debbie Ethell. Woodland Historical Society Oral History Project. (October 8, 2023, and November 18, 2023).
  5. Bright, Brad. Interview. Conducted by Debbie Ethell. Woodland Historical Society Oral History Project. (October 8, 2023, and November 18, 2023).
  6. Bundy, Don. “Body of Trainer Found Next to Elephant.” The Oregonian, June 28, 1979, p. 17.
  7. Detzel, Helen M. “You Don’t ‘Tame’ Lions.” Cincinnati Magazine, December, 1973.
  8. Elton, William. Autopsy and Pathology Report for Morgan Berry. Cowlitz County Medical Examiner’s Office, June 28, 1979.
  9. “Elephant Tramples Trainer.” The Spokesman Review (Spokane, Washington), June 28, 1979, pp. 1-3.
  10. “Elephant Walk Signals Trainer’s Tragic End.” The Spokesman Review (Spokane, Washington), July, 1979.
  11. “He Died Amidst His Animal Family.” The Daily News (Longview, Washington), June 28, 1979.
  12. Hudson, Tom. Interview. Conducted by Debbie Ethell, Woodland Historical Society Oral History Project. (October 8, 2023, and November 18, 2023).
  13. Maberry, Matthew, Patricia Maberry, and Michelle Trappen. Packy & Me. Beaverton, Oregon: Maberry Press, 2011.
  14. McIntosh, Jay. “Lethal Elephant Episode Over.” The Daily News (Longview, Washington), June 28, 1979, pp. 1-2.
  15. Moore, Randall Jay, and Christopher Munnion. Back to Africa. Johannesburg: Southern Book Publishers, 1989.
  16. Moore, Randall Jay, and Christopher Munnion. Elephants for Africa. Auckland Park, South Africa: Abu Publications, 2000.
  17. Mowry, Carl. Interview. Conducted by Debbie Ethell, Woodland Historical Society Oral History Project. (October 8, 2023, and November 18, 2023).
  18. Sternfeld, Joel. “Exhausted Elephant Renegade.” Photograph, June 26, 1979. https://www.joelsternfeld.net/search?q=exhausted+elephant+renegade
  19. Sullivan, Ann. “Death Came to Berry Among Beloved Giants.” The Oregonian, June 28, 1979, p. 21.
  20. “Trampling Listed as Killing Berry.” The Oregonian, July 4. 1979.
  21. Ullman, Darren. “The Elephant, the Photographer, and the Sheriff.” Cowlitz Historical Quarterly (Kelso, Washington), December, 2011. pp. 36-41.
  22. Ullmann, Darren. “The Elephant, the Photographer, and the Sheriff.” Cowlitz County Law Enforcement History Project (Kelso, Washington), October 23, 2009. http://cclehistory.blogspot.com/2009_10_23_archive.html
  23. Winebrenner, D.F. Coroner’s Report for Morgan Berry. Case No. A 108-79, Cowlitz County Coroner’s Office, June 27, 1979.
  24. “Woodland Trainer Found Dead Next to Elephant.” The Daily News (Longview, Washington), June 27, 1979.

Conflicting Accounts and ‘Heart Attack’ Claims
(surrounding Morgan Berry’s death)

The following sources present conflicting accounts of elephant trainer Morgan Berry’s death, including reports of a ‘heart attack.’ Notably, they highlight discrepancies and differing perspectives referenced in Elephant Mountain.

  1. “Body of Trainer Recovered from Guard of Bull Elephant.” The Daily News (Longview, Washington), June 29, 1979.
  2. Bundy, Don. “Body of Trainer Found Next to Elephant.” The Oregonian, June 28, 1979, p. 17.
  3. Burner, Dell. “Up From the Grave.” The Daily News (Longview, Washington), August 19, 1983.
  4. “Elephant Walk Signals Trainer’s Tragic End.” The Spokesman Review (Spokane, Washington), July, 1979.
  5. Hamilton, Donald. “Coroner Can’t Tell if Berry Victim of Heart or Elephant” Oregon Journal, June 28, 1979, p. 35.
  6. Maberry, Matthew, Patricia Maberry, and Michelle Trappen. Packy & Me. Beaverton, Oregon: Maberry Press, 2011.
  7. McIntosh, Jay. “Lethal Elephant Episode Over” The Daily News (Longview, Washington), June 28, 1979, pp. 1-2.
  8. Moore, Randall Jay, and Christopher Munnion. Back to Africa. Johannesburg: Southern Book Publishers, 1989.
  9. Moore, Randall Jay, and Christopher Munnion. Elephants for Africa. Auckland Park, South Africa: Abu Publications, 2000.
  10. Richards, Leverett. Elephants Don’t Snore. Vancouver, Washington: Rose Wind Press, 1996.
  11. Schmidt, Michael, DVM. Jumbo Ghosts: The Dangerous Life of Elephants in the Zoo. Chicago: Xlibris Corp, 2002.
  12. Sullivan, Ann. “Death Came to Berry Among Beloved Giants.” The Oregonian, June 28, 1979, p. 21.
  13. “3 Elephants Retrained for Wilds.” The Oregonian, March 17, 1980, p. A15.

Sources that Misidentified the Elephant (Tunga) as Morgan’s Killer

Below are the sources that incorrectly identified the elephant involved in Morgan’s death.

  1. “Body of Trainer Recovered from Guard of Bull Elephant.” The Daily News (Longview, Washington), June 29, 1979.
  2. Bundy, Don. “Body of Trainer Found Next to Elephant.” The Oregonian, June 28, 1979, p. 17.
  3. “He Died Amidst His Animal Family.” The Daily News (Longview, Washington), June 28, 1979.
  4. McIntosh, Jay. “Lethal Elephant Episode Over.” The Daily News (Longview, Washington), June 28, 1979, pp. 1-2.
  5. Sullivan, Ann. “Death Came to Berry Among Beloved Giants.” The Oregonian, June 28, 1979, p. 21.
  6. Ullman, Darren. “The Elephant, the Photographer, and the Sheriff.” Cowlitz Historical Quarterly (Kelso, Washington), December, 2011. pp. 36-41.
  7. Ullmann, Darren. “The Elephant, the Photographer, and the Sheriff.” Cowlitz County Law Enforcement History Project (Kelso, Washington), October 23, 2009. http://cclehistory.blogspot.com/2009_10_23_archive.html
  8. “Woodland Trainer Found Dead Next to Elephant.” The Daily News (Longview, Washington), June 27, 1979.

Sources that Correctly Identified the Elephant (Buddha) as Morgan’s Killer

The sources below correctly identified Buddha as the elephant responsible for Morgan’s death.

  1. “Elephant Walk Signals Trainer’s Tragic End.” The Spokesman Review (Spokane, Washington), July, 1979.
  2. Hamilton, Donald. “Coroner Can’t Tell if Berry Victim of Heart or Elephant.” Oregon Journal, June 28, 1979, p. 35.
  3. Macpherson, Malcolm. The Cowboy and His Elephant. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2002.
  4. Moore, Randall Jay, and Christopher Munnion. Back to Africa. Johannesburg: Southern Book Publishers, 1989.
  5. Moore, Randall Jay, and Christopher Munnion. Elephants for Africa. Auckland Park, South Africa: Abu Publications, 2000.
  6. Schmidt, Michael, DVM. Jumbo Ghosts: The Dangerous Life of Elephants in the Zoo. Chicago: Xlibris Corp, 2002.