Dondi, Phil, Francine and Joshua have a special family relationship; demonstrating a bond of respect, trust and love between animal and man. Dondi, a female Asian elephant born in a lumber camp outside Bangkok Thailand in 1974, has been a part of the Schachts’ circus family since 1975. Francine Schacht’s father Don, saved Dondi and five other elephants from destruction in the camp and recommended Phil and Francine adopt Dondi as their own.

She was welcomed to her new home at the age of nine months, brought to the United States, bottle-fed and has been raised as part of this loving family ever since. She is definitely not the average little girl, at 33 years of age and 8000 pounds. Dondi and Family use a special elephant presentation, far from the typical circus act: using training techniques based on positive reinforcement, the Schachts have received international acclaim for their results.

Dondi has appeared on the "Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson, with Bill Cosby on the "Merv Griffin Show" and with Betty White on "Circus of the Stars." She is playful and can show behaviors that no other elephant in the world has ever learned, such as imitating a chicken, roars like a lion, gives raspberries, plays baseball and interacts positively with her human family. Prior to obtaining Dondi, Phil and Francine were accomplished aerialists who were best known for their "Flying Apollos" trapeze act. They were even featured in a television special with George Plimpton called "Plimpton! The Man on the Flying Trapeze" in 1971. Phil and Francine’s son, Joshua, has appeared in the circus ring with Dondi since he was four months old.