ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



OILIN'G THE SK.IN' TO rRKVKXT CRACKING 



WASHIXG I)(_i\VX WITH THE HOSE. 



OUR FIRST ELEPHANT. 



AFTER various delays and disappointments, 

 the Zoological Society has received, as a 

 gift from Col. Oliver H. Payne, a satisfactory 

 Indian elephant. More than a year ago an order 

 for elephants was placed with Mr. Hagenbeck, 

 calling for an African elephant of any size obtain- 

 able, and a male Indian elephant not less than 

 seven feet in height. 



A baby elephant that was captured for us in 

 German Eastern Africa died in the wilds, and at 

 present there is no other in sight. The first Indian 

 elephant purchased by Mr. Hagenbeck's agent in 

 India so endeared himself to his native owner that 

 at the last moment the price was doubled, — and 

 the purchase declared off. Another elephant was 

 found, and its transfer agreed upon; but at the 

 last moment it developed a bad temper, and had to 

 be abandoned. Thereupon "Gunda" was pur- 

 chased. 



"Gunda" is from Assam, in the extreme north- 

 eastern corner of India. He was caught wild, is 

 now about seven years old, and stands 6 feet 7 

 inches high at the shoulders. He has all the points 

 of a "high-caste" elephant, and weighs 3,740 

 pounds, — a heavy weight for an elephant of 

 Gunda's age. 



This elephant was shipped from India in a 

 massive box, in charge of Kodah Bux, the laziest 

 and most shiftless native who ever left India's 

 coral strand. Kodah came to stav for three 



months, and was to s|.)end his time in caring for 

 and training this elephant. But by no process 

 known in the Zoological Park could he be coaxed 

 or coerced into doing anything resembling duty; 

 so he was promptly shipped back to India. 



Keeper Frank Gleason asked for "Gunda," as 

 his special charge, to train, handle, and care for; 

 and to him the elephant was assigned, within a 

 week after its arrival. 



"Gunda" is a good elephant, and on Sunday, 

 August 14th, began his regular work of carrying 

 visitors. Keeper Gleason has trained him very suc- 

 cessfully, and without the slightest trouble. But 

 " Gunda " is as mischievous as any bad boy. When 

 unchained and turned loo.se in his big room in the 

 Antelope House, he began to amuse himself by 

 ascertaining what he could bend or break. Having 

 tusks about 16 inches long, he set to work indent- 

 ing his doors, springing bolts, and testing the 

 strength of everything within reach. 



Wherever there existed a weak spot in his envi- 

 ronment, he promptly pointed it out; and our work- 

 men have spent several days in making everything 

 sufficiently strong to meet "Gunda's" requirements. 



In captivity, male elephants are much less com- 

 mon than females. In the hurly-burly of travelling- 

 show life, male elephants are prone to resent the 

 worriments that are common to all. The females 

 are more patient and obedient under adverse cir- 

 cumstances, ;ind therefore more desired. In the 



