A TRUSTFUL YOUNG ELEPHANT

Shannon News, 4 December 1928, Page 4

A TRUSTFUL YOUNG ELEPHANT

An easy way to capture a calf elephant has been discovered by Mr. G F. Wilkinson, a railway guard (wrote the Bulawayo, Rhodesia, correspondent of “The Times” recently). He is now faced with the problem of how to dispose of one. While in charge of a goods train running , between Delt and Bulawayo, Mr Wilkinson secured his prize. The train was held up by a herd of elephants! The animals rushed to the bush, but a yotfng one remained surveying the train with interest. The mother rushed back and unceremoniously lifted her calf from the permanent way. Its curiosity still unsatisfied, * tho young elephant returned to the train* and was quite • easily induced to get into the van. There it consumed 12 pints of milk. At Bulawayo it followed Mr Wilkinson t,o his home and slept quite contentedly on the/doorstep. On awakening it romped with a Great Dune which was kept in the house. Mr Wilkinson, fearing that the animal ’s daily rations were likely to b» expensive, offered it to the town council for tho local zoo. The offer was declined, so Mr. Wilkinson set off for the town with Malindi, as the elephant has been named, following behind him in the friendliest fashion. The magistrate was consulted, and .on; his suggestion Malindi has been offered to the Matoppos Agricultural School,', some miles out of Bulawayo.