Evening journal., 1907-04-27
CARE OF ELEPHANTS
Big Animal is Possessed Of Peculiarly
Delicate conssitution-Is a BIO Job.

Delicate constitution--ls Big job.
The care OF elephants is a delicate mat.
ter In fact. the animal itself ls possessed
of a most peculiarly delicate consttu-
ton. Notwithstanding It's enormous size
and brawny impenctrablo hide, During
the winter months while the animals are
resting, the Keepers put thom through a
course of bathing, brushing and eNorcIs-
ing, the effect OF which is really noticed
when the annual tour begins in the
spring. TO go over herd of thirty colos-
sal elephants in this way takes several
weeks
Many square yards OF elephant hide
must be rubbed and softcned up. and ~
takes days for the different treatments toI
become effective A thorough oiling OF the
skin OF the elephant Is first necessary,
and often as many as four attendants
are set 70 work on one big beast Some
of the men begin on the animals legs
while othors use stepladdors 20 reach the
upper regions of the mastodons. Another
will begin on the trunk, and Is here
where the elephant takes issue with his
keepers. After thorough massagiug with
oil the animal IS left untouched for a
short period.
Lastly. the treatment Is one of sand
naperng the entire surface. The sand
papcring process is chiefly applied TO the
African elephants. whose hides are thick
er rougher and more scaly than the skin
OF the Asiatlc variety. The hide. first
softened by oling and massage, and
aftcrward cleaned Is likely to remain
rough The animals cars are delicate and
sensitive compared TO the broader por-
tions Of the body.
The Forepaush-scl combined shows
which visit wilmington next Friday have
two rare African elephants, great huge
tusked, umbrella cared pachyderms, that
arc source of amazoment TO an who
visit the menageric no their tusks are
fastened immense balls of brass. securely
screwed on And attached to their forelegs
are strong chains which in turn are fast
oucd to the brass work. "Kongo" and
| "Zena" are tractable animals, and arc
/ fairly obediont
They were captured IN a region in
Africa lying between the Victoria and
Albert lalSes-a country where elephant
tracks are visible everywhere. although
they themselves are but rarely seen. This
is due to many causes. I'm the first place
the African elephants are extremely sh,
animals and they detest the neighbor
hood Of man. Secondly, they are largely
nocturnal feeders, and rarely drink o
battle except by night They often trave
immense distances 10 and from the watc
and retire during the day TO the remotcsi
portions OF the forest. whore they doz
away the long. hot hours under the
shadiest trees that they can find. Lastly
their scent Is extremely keen. and So
largely developed that they can rccogniz
danger at very long distance and a
soon as the alarm is given they mov'
quickly but no'selessly away. "Kongo
and "Zona" We're captured by kafnrs
who are persevcring elephant hunters am
are wonderfully expert in tracking an,
Individual by the "spoor" on track whic
is made by its footsteps I'm spite of It
enormous dimensions q is the most IN
visible Of forest creatures. and a her
OF elephants nine or ton feet I'm heigh
I may stand within short distance
the hunter without being detected by hin
n even though the latter IS aware of the
presence.
"Kongo" and "zens" the big Africa
elephants with the Forop1ush-sells shoy
: are guided by a mahout who sits astri,
their necls and directs their movement
by means OF his voice aided by a kind
re spiked hook called by the kafhrs Oh
IN haunkus, which is applied to the animal
" head ia such ca maner as 10 convey N
q rdiver's wishes TO the elephant
"Konso" and "Zeffa" viii take part
the street parade. bringing mp the rec
Of the big string of Aslatic elephants
be seen in the pageant