Dunk (elephant)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dunk, (1861 ? - March 30, 1917),^[1] a tuskless, male Asian Elephant, possibly from Ceylon, was the first elephant to reside at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.. He was gifted to the National Zoo on April 30, 1891 by James E. Cooper, owner and manager of the Adam Forepaugh Circus.

When Dunk first arrived at the National Zoo, he had no shelter and was tied to a tree with his companion Gold Dust (elephant) to prevent him from wandering. Once a day, both elephants were walked to Rock Creek to swim. A temporary structure, known as the Octagonal House was evenutally built for the elephants. Construction on a permanent, brick, elephant house, designed by Hornblower & Marshall, began in September of 1902 and was completed in January of 1903.

Dunk had been ill throughout the winter of 1917. After Dunk had suffered a fall breaking his shoulder, keeper William Blackburne shot him.

Despite a famous ill-temper, Dunk was popular with the children of Washington, D.C. To commemorate his memory, they raised money for a plaque, which still remains in the elephant house at the National Zoo today.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

[1] - image of Gold Dust (elephant) (left) and Dunk (right) on a walk from the Smithsonian online catalog

• [2] - image of Dunk's elephant house, from the Smithsonian online catalog
  
• [3] - image of Dunk's elephant house, from the Smithsonian online catalog