With thousands of acres of forest preserves, a swath of Lake Michigan shore and an array of wetlands, Lake County is no stranger to interesting wildlife.
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But there aren’t many elephants.
“We have some smaller circuses stop through here,” Matt Renaker, an employee with the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake, said Thursday. “But this is the first time I’ve seen an elephant.”
Dondi, an 8,000-pound female Asian elephant, has been bunking at the fairgrounds on a rented plot since late last month, when she wrapped up a gig at an extravagant Indian wedding May 28 at Navy Pier.
Dondi will stay in Grayslake until June 15, when she departs with her trainers for her next performance in Holland, Mich.
Adopted in 1974 from Thailand at the age of 9 months, the pachyderm is the pride and joy of former trapeze performers Phil and Francine Schacht, of Orlando, who bottle-fed and doted on her when she was young.
Dondi also plays the role of sassy sibling to the Schachts’ 20-year-old son, Joshua, who grew up with the elephant and is her principal trainer.
“She’s like my big sister,” Joshua Schacht said while Dondi munched on a mouthful of hay in the background. “We even have our differences. But she usually wins those battles.”
Taking care of Dondi is a full-time chore, Joshua Schacht said, as she needs to stop every four hours while traveling to get food, water and exercise.
“Looking after her is kind of like looking after a 3-year-old,” he said. “One that weighs 8,000 pounds.”