ELEPHANT ARRIVES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1930, Page 6

ELEPHANT ARRIVES

BOUGHT FOR AUCKLAND.

AUCKLAND, November 11

Jumbo, the big elephant purchased by the Auckland City Council from the Hobart Zoo, arrived by the Ulimaroa to-day, and was taken to the Auckland Zoo on a motor-trailer. Jumbo will be a mate for Jamuua, the female zoo elephant.

He was brought from the Hobart Zoo; his keeper explained, having been taken, there when he was nine years old from India, whrere lie was born in captivity. He is now aged 13. Whem his purchase was completed lie was removed to Taronga Park, Sydney, to wait for the Ulimaroa.

“We had a great time getting him from the park to the lorry-trailer, which) was to take him to the ship,” remarked his keeper. “We had to rig up a sort of derrick, and then Jumbo would persist in playfully hauling on the steel ropes, which were to lift him into his cage. Every time we fixed them he would just unfix them, and they say that elephants have no brains.”

His fondness was children, explained the keeper. They could .do anything with him. He had been taught no tricks/ because that might he dangerous where children were concerned. He was a general favourite on hoard ship, and apart from the 3) tons of hay lie ate, he was never hungry. If the chief steward found he had to ration out more bread than usual to the crew he would have to ask who used to gouge the middle out of the loaves to fill the space with jam and give it to Jumbo. Jumbo likes jam, Scraps of apple and onions and oranges round the cage told their own tale.