Jumbo, the famous African bush elephant, was born around December 25, 1860, in Sudan. After his mother was killed by poachers, he was captured and sold to Lorenzo Casanova, an Italian animal dealer. Jumbo was then transferred to the London Zoo in 1865, where he became a crowd favorite due to his size and good nature.
Jumbo’s Dimensions and Weight
Jumbo’s shoulder height was approximately 3.23 meters (10 feet 7 inches) at the time of his death. However, Phineas T. Barnum, the American entertainer who later acquired Jumbo, claimed that the elephant was about 4 meters (13 feet 1 inch) tall. Jumbo weighed around 6.15 metric tons (6.78 short tons).
Life at the London Zoo
Jumbo was London Zoo’s first African elephant and quickly became a favorite among visitors, including Queen Victoria’s children, who rode on his back. He was known for his calm demeanor during the day, but showed signs of aggression at night, which was later attributed to toothache caused by a diet of sticky buns fed to him by zoo visitors.
Jumbo’s Sale and Death
In 1882, Abraham Bartlett, superintendent of the London Zoo, sold Jumbo to Phineas T. Barnum for £2,000 (US$10,000) due to concerns about Jumbo’s growing aggression and potential to cause a public disaster. This decision sparked national controversy and public outcry, with 100,000 school children writing to Queen Victoria to beg her not to sell the elephant. Jumbo was eventually shipped to the United States and exhibited in Barnum’s circus. Sadly, Jumbo died in a railway accident in Canada in 1885.
Jumbo’s Legacy
Jumbo’s name has become synonymous with large size, with phrases like “jumbo jet,” “jumbo shrimp,” and “jumbotron” entering the English language. His legacy also includes influencing art, culture, and science, as well as contributing to the global movement to protect the natural world.
Visiting London Zoo Today
Today, the London Zoo is home to various animals and is dedicated to advancing animal welfare and care. The Zoo’s herd of Asian elephants lives in the Centre for Elephant Care, a custom-built facility designed to provide the perfect home for the breeding group.
Interesting Facts about London Zoo Jumbo
- Jumbo was born around December 25, 1860, in Sudan.
- He was the first African elephant to be housed at the London Zoo.
- Jumbo’s shoulder height was approximately 3.23 meters (10 feet 7 inches) at the time of his death.
- Phineas T. Barnum claimed that Jumbo was about 4 meters (13 feet 1 inch) tall.
- Jumbo weighed around 6.15 metric tons (6.78 short tons).
- Jumbo was known for his calm demeanor during the day but showed signs of aggression at night, which was later attributed to toothache.
- Jumbo was sold to Phineas T. Barnum in 1882 for £2,000 (US$10,000) due to concerns about his growing aggression.
- Jumbo’s death in a railway accident in Canada in 1885 sparked national controversy and public outcry.
- Jumbo’s name has become synonymous with large size, with phrases like “jumbo jet,” “jumbo shrimp,” and “jumbotron” entering the English language.
References:
- Zoological Society of London Archive Site: Jumbo the Elephant – https://zsl.maxarchiveservices.co.uk/sub_animals/967/
- Museum of London Docklands: Meet the Beast: Jumbo the Elephant – https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/discover/meet-beast-jumbo-elephant
- London Zoo: Famous London Zoo animals – https://www.londonzoo.org/zoo-stories/history-of-london-zoo/famous-animals