Jumbo: Marvel, Myth & Mascot

Jumbo the elephant was one of the most famous animals that ever walked the earth. Born on the African savannah, he went on to become a celebrity on both sides of the Atlantic, first at the London Zoo and then as the star attraction of P.T. Barnum’s circus. His name even entered the English language: that’s why we say anything really big is “jumbo” to this day. Professor Andrew McClellan tells the amazing story of Jumbo’s life, death and how he eventually became the beloved Tufts University mascot.
now.tufts.edu/multimedia

[@DeyaIV]

I don’t think he was well taken care, they discovered that his joints we’re worn out, he was just 20 years old, but his joints were worn out as much as a 60 years old elephant. This is a very sad story of a beautiful wild animal being captive, exploited and malnourished.

[@Itsnotme_25]

He was a big animal ofc his joins were going to be like that when u see the world’s tallest men the all have joint and back problems

[@Itsnotme_25]

Joints*

[@thescaryjokesarchive2014]

Even after death he had to Indore pain and humiliation

[@andrewpytko4773]

He was not malnourished. He was well fed.

[@DeyaIV]

The African elephant lives 60-70 years. Elephants in captivity have shorter life spans, which experts believe is due to stress from poor mental health. The oldest an elephant lived on record is about 90 years old. Any animal or human when in stress can’t nursing their bodies, can’t absorb nutrients well. So this animal wasn’t in its natural environment, he was unnecessary stress by humans. It was malnourished and exploited because of its size and because it was dominated by men. People may think the animals in the circus and zoos are well fed, it doesn’t mean they are well nourished period.

[@anneshields2010]

Jumbo is so adorable a gentle giant and his life was so so sad love you Jumbo if I ever visit his monument I’ll give his leg a hug he’s so sweet

[@Jeywayntw]

U probably kno by now

[@buttbutt2011]

5:53 great performer, he INVENTED the dab (look on the left side).

[@subtopewdiepiepls3943]

I noticed that 😂

[@JaniceGhostHunter13]

I REALLY want to see a movie that shows Jumbo and Scotty and how their lives grew intertwined. This story is just amazing and compelling. I feel for both the elephant and the man and I think it would be an amazing film. My only question in all this though is what ever became of Scotty?

[@alexandreberiault6425]

I'm pretty sad: elephants were my favourite animals as a kid... and still are. Rest in peace, you magnificent wonder of the world.

[@virgilpine9712]

As a child, I had heard the story of Jumbo saving the baby elephant and I believed it.

[@luisamz8043]

I just found out that in the movie Dumbo. Dumbo's mom is named Mrs. Jumbo making me finally see that Jumbo is the father of Dumbo.

[@mirsey93]

I thought the same thing. Though I read recently that Jumbo and Dumbo are supposed to be yhe same elephant. Jumbo was his real name but because of his ears, the other elephants and everyone in the circus came up with the cruel name "Dumbo". I think Dumbo is supposed to be Disney's version of an origin story of the most famous circus elephant. I guess the thought here is that Jumbo "grew into his ears" so to speak lol.

[@anneshields2010]

Yeahhe could be if Dumbo was a real elephant and Dumbo is really cute like Jumbo can’t wait to. see live action Dumbo when it comes out

[@haileyshannon7548]

Jumbo is/was kind of stock name for elephants in pop culture, like Fido is to dogs.

[@soysaucestudios769]

Oh yeah But wait Jumbo died in 1885 Dumbo was born according to the 2019 movie version was born in 1919 So sorry but good theory though

[@conservativelifeonmars5312]

jumbo and dumbo are the same elephant. the bullies called dumbo because of his ears.

[@amyannunziata8456]

Poor thing! He basically spent his whole life as a slave and a prisoner! No Animal should have to be put on display for entertainment! 😢😟

[@Onmysheet]

Whilst suffering with toothache. That's terrible!

[@nealthedeal1]

Different times, even today zoo's are places of study and we can see many animals exhibited in more or less natural environments. Before cars and mass transit the zoo had to come to you, and in many ways a circus was a convenient way people could see exotic animals. Nowadays we can travel to animal parks and more attention is given to there mental health and not just there physical needs. I think animals know when they are being cared for in a good way and even if they can't roam the plains of Africa they don't have the stress of predation or drought either.

[@racheldianeames3729]

my hearts goes out to jumbo

[@anneshields2010]

I agree with you he had asad life and giving an animal alcohol is sick they could have killed him maybe poor Jumbo had enough his end was suicide don’t know what was going through Jumbos mind poor thing 😢

[@1joshjosh1]

Go away snowflake

[@kathyprine4639]

RIP Jumbo ♥️ our sweetheart

[@ronaldschmuck9627]

Excellent presentation and 100% accurate to my own research. The story of Jumbo is something to be remembered, I have visited his memorial at St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada where he is still remembered to this day in 2022, I read below all sort of comments from people who know nothing of what life for an elephant in the wild is like. I wish these same people would spend some effort to help protect the elephants we still have, and not to criticize the Circus history out of hindsight. . Thank you to Tufts University for recording the history of Jumbo, the worlds largest elephant and P.T. Barnum who brought many marvels for the world to see. Ron S

[@andgalactus1]

My grandma lived in st thomas and I used to go there all the time as a kid, I always had a connection with jumbo even though he died so many decades before I was even born, I always found him fascinating and this is a very interesting documentary on him.

[@racheldurno-allen9330]

I feel so bad for jumbo. And what's worse is that people are still doing this to animals. :'(

[@ankanaguha8713]

Poor jumbo his name means big but his life wasn't big at all his life was small and sad RIP to jumbo you will always be in my heart from 1 st January 2020 ( 21st century ) it has been a whole century or 100 years from that time to now

[@haileyshannon7548]

The zoo he was at in Paris was Jardin De Plantes. In 1870 German forces seized and blocked off the city and caused a shortage of food. Parisians were forced to eat animals like cats, dogs, mice, and horses in order to survive, soon they resorted to eating animals from the zoo including two elephants named Castor and Pollux. Jumbo went to London just in time!

[@aaron99118]

Yeah I know stupid humans all their dramas and greed

[@joehindley6016]

Excellent video! We in St Thomas will always have a connection with your University. I pass the spot he was killed almost every day. If your in the city stop by for a Dead elephant ale!

[@janicekhan3682]

fucking disgusting they didnt even let him rest in peace!

[@whichkatami]

Jumbo was a teenager when he died, so sad.

[@Kush_328]

Jumbo, his early childhood was stolen by sword hunters from my family in eastern Sudan from the Al-Hamran tribe. It was sold for a very low amount to this Greek merchant who was exploiting the fishermen for their need for money in the city of Kassala. From her body because of this unjustified recklessness in this hunt, we lost our pure grandfather Sharif, although he was one of the most skilled hunters, he hunted many predators, and he also hunted this elephant. The hunters learned of the greatness of this elephant when they sold it for a small amount. The journey of this elephant from the jungles of eastern Sudan to Europe, America and Canada is a heinous crime, confirming the extent of human ugliness.

[@uruiamnot]

Very good video. Interesting use of 3D, and good narration.

[@anneshields2010]

I found out about Jumbo through Dumbo really they say the little fictional Elephants life kinda mirrors Jumbos life

[@kurtmartin2580]

i lived in St.Thomas Ontario Canada he is still a huge icon there

[@uruiamnot]

An icon? Like people pray to Jumbo? That's sick.

[@ethantism]

@@uruiamnot he died in st thomas

[@livexxredxx2889]

@@uruiamnotdo you mean the word “idol”😂or are you just trying to be funny?

[@uruiamnot]

@@livexxredxx2889 Have you ever heard iconoclasm? Look it up.

[@rayhummel8921]

I had seen videos and read about Jumbo. I became fascinated with Jumbo (And of course his wife Alice) who lived with him at the London Zoo! I knew in my heart that I must write a song about him and I did. I put it on You Tube, and put his song on my timeline on Facebook. It was such a moving experience that I had to share this with you as I know Jumbo is your mascot at Tuft's University! I also dedicate it to the nice people at P. T. Barnum's Museum who helped me find good photos concerning Jumbo. Also I dedicate my song to the late and great P. T. Barnum who gave Jumbo his show business break with the Greatest Show On Earth, and to all the people around the world that love to go to the circus!

[@akhancj9]

It hurts my heart to see animals getting hurt

[@420alien8]

Rip jumbo its sep 15 2019 allways loved !

[@Alexander-bp2ht]

After all these years, I finally understand why there was an elephant in Jumbo Video logo! WOW

[@eazypeazy33]

Make my stomach hurt thinking of how dirty these people were., Not having the knowledge is NO excuse. It’s not having empathy. Or any bit of a heart.. it’s nothing but greed.. GREEED!!

[@racheldianeames3729]

rip jumbo the elephant :( Y are deeply missed

[@rayhummel8921]

I love the video about the life of Jumbo! He fascinates me so much that I wrote a song called Jumbo and it is on You Tube!

[@daryache]

Какой потрясающий рассказ, музыка, фотографии. Я очень впечатлилась до слёз.

[@andyrodriguez6817]

From jumbo to harambae

[@nicolascangele5548]

if he appears in Dumbo 2 i think Brendan Fraser should voice him

[@ChimeratAlpha]

Good video, though it's always a bit odd when people address a corpse by a name, as if it's still a living creature. (I do get that saying "Jumbo's stuffed skin" is much more of a mouthful, though.)

[@rickbeaudry4212]

Testing. What a great Video

[@racheldianeames3729]

please use the song "only time" in a tribute to jumbo the elephant

[@uruiamnot]

They shouldn't have gotten rid of the old vacuum fluorescent and LED displays, which are better and brighter.

[@jeffylolz7714]

5:57 in the right top corner is he dabbing

[@abidurrahman6754]

Yea, He refuse to leave. He ripped his chains off, he broke the travel box & sit down. Only stand up when his caretaker was allowed to go with him & stay with him forever.

[@garypayne3455]

Barnum's attractions back in his day have created words of description used to this very day! JUMBO among them, both a noun and an adjective!

[@andrewpytko2938]

He led a rich life.

[@pearphonecom1553]

Here lies jumbo who died because of rail way accident you all know that he died and I was not yet born I miss him

[@Onmysheet]

As low as this sounds, getting killed by that train was the best thing for him. He was no longer in physical and emotional pain, and now in peace.

[@Dawnslight16]

When was the Jumbo statue in St Thomas built?

[@conservativelifeonmars5312]

Contrast this life with the story of Tyke the Elephant that killed her handler, attacked her groomer and rampaged down the streets of Hawaii. Tyke was met with the most unfortunate ending through a hail of bullet to put her down. the fact that Jumbo remained docile for all his life means he was at least taken care of and was not abused. Tyke was completed abused from beginning and to her most unfortunate end.

[@whichkatami]

King Tusk was bigger than Jumbo, a foot taller, 1000 lbs heavier. That’s so odd, because Tusk was an Asian elephant, typically smaller. I saw him many times with Ringlings.

[@nirarose1878]

i fell happy and sad happy because jumdo rinsed his life to save baby elephant and i fell sad that he died

[@user-iy2in2ot4n]

Нужен перевод на русский, как его найти?

[@thekitowl]

This is not accurate.

[@racheldurno-allen9330]

If you ride an elephants back it WILL injure the back.. :(

[@KaeganThornhillTheCyberRaven]

Unless you weigh over 500 Pounds--- They will not even know; nor feel you sitting on them since they able to lift over a ton with ease.

[@joannaedssay5988]

@@KaeganThornhillTheCyberRaven it is very bad for an Elephant to be used as a fair ground ride in this way. Their spine is not as strong as you think. Wild Elephants don't carry things like this, only captive ones who have had their will and spirit literally beat horrifically out of them in a tiny cage where they can't move.

[@KaeganThornhillTheCyberRaven]

@@joannaedssay5988 Correct. It is bad when People place those large "Tent" like platforms on the Their back and have 4 people on them since a Elephant can only support around 26% of it's weight on it's back -- and even then it needs be more up on their shoulders or flank (butt) to help prevent injury and not in the center of their back (which is a major weak spot). So yes, having 1 person on their shoulders will do no harm but having 2 or more along their back can be dangerous for both the animal an riders. An why many places have outlawed elephant ridding.

[@MrFalconford]

celebrity

[@zado5v288]

The brit owner had gave the poor animal whisky as regular diet so he was acholic an thts so sad

[@memegang7313]

My great great great grandfather sold jumbo to p.t barnum

[@Wet_sheen]

Ava Crews really that’s so cool

[@carlolouis7717]

😥😥😥😪😪😪❤🤗

[@menamamo1146]

Jombo born Ethiopia 100% not Sudan

[@TheRobloxGrinders.]

Why nòoooooooooooooo😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😓😓😓😓😓😓😞😞😞😞😢😢😢😢😢😥😥😥😥

[@nicolascangele5548]

Dumbo's dad