WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 



the Indian elephant at the rapid growth of the pair now 

 in the Gardens, presented to the Society by H.E.H. the 

 Prince of Wales in 1876. The male now approaches the 

 size of the much-famed " Jumbo." 



When the late Sultan of Zanzibar with Sir John Kirk 

 visited the Zoological Gardens "Jumbo" was as usual 

 carrying a crowd of children on his howdah, and the 

 animal passed our party within a few feet. The Sultan 

 expressed his astonishment at an African elephant of such 

 size being apparently so gentle and manageable. He had 

 never before been so near a living elephant, and his inquiry 

 was " why were they not utilized in his own country ? " I 

 am not aware what reply he received, but I thought there 

 might be a chance of his interesting himself in the subject. 

 In my opinion this matter should be taken up in earnest, 

 as there is no doubt, as I have shown, that the African 

 elephant, although of a restless disposition, could be made 

 available for use if proper means were taken to reduce him 

 to servitude. This I have repeatedly advocated in various 

 ways in my published accounts in several journals, and I 

 hope the opportunity will not be neglected until it is too 

 late ; the destruction of this grand animal is proceeding at 

 a rate that will before many years have passed lead to its 

 entire extermination. 



My father continues : — The elephant is not only the 

 largest and strongest, but the most remarkable of terrestrial 

 animals. The readiness to submit to its captors, its obedi- 

 ence and willingness to perform the work assigned to it by 

 its master may be attributed to its intelligence or to the 

 want of intelligence, a subject frequently debated. No 

 one acquainted with elephants can have any doubt but 

 that the elephant possesses a vast amount of intelligence, 

 at the same time it seems very extraordinary that a brute 

 of its size and strength should so readily submit to the 



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