Gold Dust (elephant)

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Gold Dust, (1873 ? - Nov. 4, 1898)^[1], was a male Asian elephant. He resided at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. from April 30, 1891 until his death on November 4, 1898. Gold Dust was indefinitely lent to the National Zoo as a companion for Dunk (elephant) by the Adam Forepaugh Circus.

Gold Dust is alleged to have disemboweled a man in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1864.^[2]

Gold Dust's death came as he was walking to Rock Creek with his companion Dunk (elephant). Gold Dust collapsed and even with the assistance of Dunk, was unable to rise. He died the next morning, November 4, 1898. A post-mortem examination revealed that Gold Dust's intestines were inflamed and his teeth were in bad shape and could not close properly.

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