Giving an Elephant a Bath.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 27 November 1914, Page 3

Giving an Elephant a Bath.

The elephant enjoys a bath in the streams and pools of his native habitat, but his lordly brother in captivity finds no such comfort in the bath that fro.n time to time is given him. 'A trainer thus describes the expensive operation : "It takes a week to carry out. the process in every detail. !t- requires the services of three men and costs £.(H). This treatment is necessary for a show elephant and, if the animal is a valuable one. the proprietor of the show does not consider the money wasted. The fir:-t step consists of going over the iir.iiien.se body with I lie best soap procurable; I."hi pounds of soap are used, and the elephant's curs are especially attended to. When the soaping and drying are completed the elephant is well sandpapered, and after Ihaf rubbe;! all over wiiii the purest Indian oil until the mouse-grey skin is s;:nple ;! i;;' glistening. This last finishing touch is the most expensive Part .g" the whole bath, its ii mea.i.-; the application of about L.A) _ worth of olive oil."