Elephant Charmer

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1922, Page 3

Elephant Charmer

END OF A 3 AV KICK S’ STRIKIAT THE ZOO.

LONDON, May 17. There was a really wonderful moment at the London /no yesterday, when an elephant’s three weeks’ strike Wild broken by two men who could speak her language. The Maharajah of Cooch-Bchar presented a full-grown, well-trained female elephant to the Zoo by name. All last season she carried children beautifully. This year she behaved well till the middle of April. One day she turned mulish. She disembarked her load of children at the mounting ladders, hut re I used to take on another cargo. Her British keepers did their best, bribing and coaxing, but not another child would she carry. She --row worse instead ol better, and last week declined to come out of her paddock though she permitted her keeper to sit on her neck. Then the authorities at the Zoo rang up the London Asiatics’ Home, Limehousc, and asked if bv any chance there was anyone there who had bad experience as nil elephant mahout (driver)'. By good luck, one was forthcoming, and yesterday Mr Doctor, superintendent of the Bombay Zoo. and the wandering Asiatic undertook “lndarinis”' reformation. She beard again the old Hindu words of command and obeyed. AA here “AATioa” and “Come on” bad failed, she answered to strange chattering noises, and soon was carrying her saddle and n full load of lieftv keepers. The casual "elephant charmer” from Limeliouse is being engaged by the Zoological Society to complete bis conquest, the secret of which is to talk to the elephant in the tongue which first trained him. A phonetic record of liis commands equalling “Turn round,” “Mnsn’t,” “That’s right, old girl,” “Stop,” and the like will be taken, and the British keepers taught to utter the mag'e sounds.