EDUCATING AN ELEPHANT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 237, 19 September 1922, Page 3

EDUCATING AN ELEPHANT.

AT THE LONDON ZOO. The other days we gave a description of the methods adopted by an Indian mahout in “bringing to reason” a recalcitrant young female elephant in the London Zoo on which her English keeper could make no impression. The “Times” thus continues the story of the mahout’s success in inducing a better frame oi mind in his bulky charge. The power of the Indian mahout over the formerly disobedient elephant at the Zoo continues to excite admiring interest. The elephant now fulfils her afternoon duties of carrying children, to the complete satisfaction of every-, one, and is being continually praised by the mahout in Hindustani lor her good conduct. She is also taken out in the mornings for exercise, and has acquired various tricks. She collects pennies from the ground, picking them up with her trunk and handing them to the mahout. She will raise a broom or basket and carry it to give to a gardener, and in many other ways shows that she understands what her keeper wishes her to do. The mahout believes that she understands every word he says, and certainly he orders her, praises her, and scolds her in Hindustani. But he also employs other means. He sits on the animal’s neck, with his legs behind her ears. His toes are naked, and he is continually using them, pressing them on one side or the other, digging them m or gently scratching her skin with them. Similarly he makes much use of his hands, patting her on the head, taking hold of the tip of her trunk, rubbing her over the eyes. She knows very well when he is pleased or displeased, and, apparently, largely by the method of trial and error, finds out what she is expected to do under different circumstances. In other words, she chooses the method of least resistance to his wishes. As her memory is good, very few trials are sufficient for each new “trick.”