Jumbo

Jumbo was a famous male African bush elephant who lived during the 19th century.

Born in Sudan around December 25, 1860, he became a global sensation. His massive size and personality made him a celebrity in both Europe and North America. The name "Jumbo" eventually entered the English language as a common word. Today, people use "jumbo" to describe anything that is very large in size. This includes terms like "jumbo jet," "jumbo shrimp," and "jumbotron."

Jumbo's early life involved a long journey across several countries. After his mother was killed by poachers, he was captured by Taher Sheriff and Johann Schmidt. An Italian animal dealer named Lorenzo Casanova purchased the calf. Casanova moved the animals from Sudan to Suez, then across the Mediterranean Sea to Trieste. From there, the collection was sold to a German menagerie. Eventually, Jumbo was imported to France to live at the Jardin des Plantes zoo in Paris. In 1865, he was transferred to the London Zoo in England, where he arrived on June 26.

While living in London, Jumbo became a beloved public figure. He was famous for giving rides to children on his back. These rides even included the children of Queen Victoria. However, his time in London was not without physical struggles. Jumbo broke both of his tusks during his stay. When they regrew, he used the stonework of his enclosure to grind them down. His keeper, Matthew Scott, cared for him and later wrote an autobiography about their life together.

In 1882, a major controversy erupted regarding Jumbo's future. The superintendent of the London Zoo, Abraham Bartlett, decided to sell Jumbo to the American entertainer Phineas T. Barnum. The sale price was £2,000, which was roughly $10,000 at the time. This decision was made because officials were concerned about Jumbo's growing aggression. Many people in London were devastated by the news. They viewed the sale as a great loss for the British empire. Approximately 100,000 school children even wrote letters to Queen Victoria to beg her not to let him go.

Although there was a lawsuit regarding zoo bylaws, the court upheld the sale.

Jumbo moved to the United States to join the Barnum & Bailey Circus. He was a massive financial success for P. T. Barnum. In just three weeks of exhibiting at Madison Square Garden, Jumbo earned enough money to cover his purchase price. During a 31-week season, the circus earned $1.75 million, largely because of its star attraction. In 1884, Jumbo helped prove the safety of the Brooklyn Bridge. He was one of 21 elephants that walked across the bridge to show it would not collapse. This was important because 15 people had died during a previous stampede caused by fear of the bridge.

Jumbo's life ended tragically on September 15, 1885, in St. Thomas, Ontario. At the time, the circus traveled across North America by train. While the animals were being led to a box car, a freight train struck Jumbo. He was mortally wounded and died within minutes. Barnum shared a story that Jumbo died while trying to save a smaller elephant named Tom Thumb from the locomotive. While newspapers reported the train hit Jumbo directly, Barnum's account was supported by some witnesses.

Scientists later examined his skeleton and found that his nightly rages in London were likely caused by toothache. His molar teeth were malformed because a soft diet prevented them from wearing down properly.

Jumbo's physical remains were preserved in several ways. His skeleton was donated to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. His heart was sold to Cornell University but was lost by the 1940s. His hide was stuffed by taxidermists and eventually donated to Tufts University.

The hide was destroyed in a fire in April 1975. Today, Jumbo remains the official athletic mascot of Tufts University. His legacy lives on through statues, buildings like "Lucy the Elephant" in New Jersey, and even the Disney film *Dumbo*.