No. 291

Elephant learns to play the harmonica

An elephant named Shanthi at the National Zoo in Washington is developing her musical talents by playing a harmonica with her trunk.

The zoo attached a harmonica attached to her stall after elephant keeper Debbie Flinkman noticed that the 36-year-old Asian elephant was “musically inclined.”

Shanthi also likes to tap things, flap her ears against objects to make noise and rub her leg up and down shrubs to repeat noises.

Ms Flinkman says she do not promt Shanthi play the harmonica, it is merely something she enjoys.

Staff said the elephant who was a gift from Sri Lanka and is the mother of 10-year-old Kandula, tends to favour making songs that end in a crescendo.

Read more |  The Telegraph, 03.05.12

Download the MITN iPhone app
Add us on Facebook
Made in the Now Three Sixty Five