Münster 2021, HC., 435 pages, numerous illustrations. The first elephant arrived to a European zoo 250 years ago, on 20 June 1771. On account of this anniversary, the European Elephant Group decided to dedicate its latest publication to the beginnings of elephant husbandry in Europe. Whereas the first elephants were valuable showpieces displayed at the courts of noble rulers, in the 19th century the gray giants became increasingly common in the newly emerging travelling menageries and zoological gardens meant to educate “ordinary people.” A look at this epoch, in which the commercialization of animal husbandry took place, illustrates the development of elephant husbandry and its circumstances in these long-gone times. This comprehensive documentation was created after years of research with the aim to describe the maintenance of elephants in the early days of zoological gardens and, above all, at various European and especially English travelling animal exhibitions as well as their travel routes. In addition to contemporary images, the publication contains an extensive statistical section, which includes a list of accidents caused directly and indirectly by elephants and a list of elephant owners with bios of almost all individuals up to the end of the 19th century. In this reference work, elephant lovers will find thoroughly researched and clearly structured data about elephants in Europe at that time, allowing an insight into their husbandry in a period now far back—and will better understand the circumstances, problems and challenges of dealing with such intelligent giants in captivity. In German.
| Author | JAHN, T.: |
|---|---|
| Language | German |