Hattie (elephant)
Hattie († November 18, 1922 in New York City ) was an elephant in New York's Central Park Zoo . The crowd favorite was known for his tricks and was hailed as the "most intelligent of all elephants".
Arrival in New York
Carl Hagenbeck had brought the cow elephant from Ceylon to New York in 1903 and sold it to the Central Park Zoo for $ 5,000. Through her trainer, William "Bill" Snyder, who had previously worked with elephants at the Barnum and Bailey Circus , Hattie learned a number of tricks. It soon attracted large numbers of spectators. Hagenbeck tried in vain to buy Hattie back to bring her to Hamburg.
Crowd favorite
An article in the New York Times dated June 19, 1904 describes in detail the tricks Hattie performed every day after only a year in New York. Hattie danced the waltz on her back legs, played the harmonica, pretended to be dead or imitated a crawling baby who calls "Mama". In addition, she had acquired a sufficient understanding of the trainer's instructions in English in the short time.
In the same article, Hattie is referred to not only as the most intelligent of all elephants, but also as the most valuable. Hattie was New York's animal star.
Another article in The New York Times on April 14, 1911 describes humorous, like Hattie with a generous dose of whiskey from a colic was cured.
Illness and death
In November 1922, Hattie fell ill. She collapsed in her enclosure and couldn't get up. An attempt was made to protect the animal from catching a cold with bales of straw. For the pain she was given a bottle of whiskey in the morning and in the evening - mind you, during Prohibition . It wasn't until the fourth day that Hattie was able to get into her stable with the help of two cranes and two trucks.
Despite her best efforts, Hattie died on November 18, 1922, five days after her collapse. The public was not informed until two days later after the body was disposed of.
There are different statements about Hattie's age. The New York Times article on Hattie's death reports that she may have passed away at the age of 23, but according to another opinion, she may have been 40 years old.
Web links
- Elefant Hattie: The four-ton it girl. one day on Spiegel Online, November 19, 2012
Individual evidence
- ^ A b c d Hattie of Central Park - Most Intelligent of All Elephants. New York Times, June 14, 1904 (English)
- ↑ Strong Drink Cures Hattie of the Colic. New York Times, April 14, 1911 (English)
- ↑ a b c Hattie, Central Park Elephant, Dies; News Hidden to Keep Sad Children Away. New York Times, November 20, 1922 (English)