WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 
the Indian elephant at the rapid growth of the pair now 
in the Gardens, presented to the Society by H.KH. 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 
4 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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