The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-09-11
An Afrectionate Elephant.


On the Queens birthday and the
day following it the khedda party in
the Duars, conducted BIZ Mr.. j.
Shillingfcrd, were fortunate enough
IN catching seven wild elephants by
the noosing process. This makes
the total number now captured
twentyseight. On the former day
the noosing party, mounted on their
kunkies (fast tame elephants trained
to the work., proceeded up the Joitee
river, near Blxa, at gray dawn, and
soon espied a herd feeding along the
bank of that river. Approaching
stealthily from different directions
to within short distance, by q
sudden movement the kunkies were
amid the unsuspecting quarry,
and had secured four before the
terrified herd rushed headlong and
disappeared into the adjoining forest.
Among the captives was fine
young tusker about five and q half
feet high. They were all dashed be
tween the tame ones and conveyed
to camp, a long distance off, and
there tethered for the night. To-
ward the small hours of the morn
ing great commotion where tie
elephants were encamped aroused
every ore, and a large female ele.
plant could be just discerned NOV
ing about restlessiy among the tIees
where the captured ones were tied.
Being too dark at the time to at.
tempt noosing, some of the kUnkies
were equipped with the rope gear
and kept in readiness; silence
was enforced, aud the appear
ance of daylight was anxiously
watched. The wild one very
soon discovered the object of
her search, when, with a CRY of
Joy she took up her position along
side OF the young tusker above re.
ferred to, and began caressing him
all over the trunk. The youngster
then made frantic efforts to liberate
himself, the mother encouraging
him all the while, and when pant
ing he would fall to the ground ex-
hausted, she would endeavor to
assist him. This affection cost her
her liberty. AS soon as there was
s fiieient daylight for the purpose,
within q few yards of her offspring
che vas noosed, as on the approach
of danger she was reluctantly NOV
ing away. 1t is wonderful how she
managed to trace her young 10 the
camp. The distance csnnos be less
than eight miles, while the track
lay through dense forest, and the
trail was mixed up with those of at
least some fifteen other elephants
both tame and wild. She must
have waited until it was dark, then
followed the track, reaching the
camp between l and 2 an. The
sense of smell must be developed to
marvellous degree in elephants.
On two occasions when mothers
with calves have been captured and
and led away, their young have fol-
lowed and been secured in camp,
while another calf, small Sucking,
ia in camp with its mother, and is
kept loose. II any one tries to ap~
prOach. it runs up to the mother for
prots ction, or else moves about
among the captives without any
fear or hesitation. The usual style
of feeding wild elephants when first
taken is to lash them TO the eide of q
tame one. and lead them cut to Craze.
Some of the tame females here
have taken great fancy to calves
jntruSted to their care. and il by
mistake new one is brought up,
she evinces her dislike to the
change by kicking out at the unfor
tunste intruder. Elephants, it
must be admitted, are curious ani>
mails, and the more you see or them
the greater the interest generated
regarding their habits.