PHOTO: Emperor Nicholas II feeding his “pet” African elephant in the Alexander Park. 1914

One of the favourite pastimes of European monarchs and wealthy aristocrats were menageries, filled with exotic creatures from the four corners of the world. Among the most popular were rhinos, hippos and elephants.

Elephants in Russia during the 19th century

The first elephant was brought to Russia in 1832, and in 1839, the Emir of Bukhara presented Emperor Nicholas I (1796-1855) with another elephant and two camels, which walked from Bukhara to St. Petersburg – a journey which tookr almost a year.

The elephant was taken for a walk daily by an attendant, who noted that the elephant was a “kind and clever animal”. The Tsar’s children fed the elephant with apples and sugar, and together with the caretaker they walked him in the yard of the Elephant Pavilion. 

The elephants became a favorite animal among the Tsar’s children. Visits to see the elephants was part of the educational program for the grand dukes. The children came to feed the old elephant, and the teachers asked them to examine the animal’s teeth and feet, as part of their studies. The grand dukes fed the elephant with apples and sugar cubes and, together with the caretaker, walked it around the courtyard.

The Elephant Pavilion

The elephants were housed in a specially made Elephant Pavilion, constructed during the reign of Emperor Nicholas I, in the far end of the Alexander Park at Tsarskoye Selo.  The wooden pavilion was constructed in 1828 in the Indian style by the Scottish architect Adam Menelaws (1753-1831). The pavilion included small intricate turrets, a large quadrangular courtyard, surrounded by a metal fence, with service buildings and sheds.

According to the caretaker, the male elephants “eats 2 pounds of tortillas fried in butter, 6 pound of hay, sugar cubes and 2 tubs of water, per day.”

In winter, the building was heated, and covered with large felt blankets, so that the elephants lived in warmth during the cold Russian winters. In the summer, they walked in the park and bathed daily in the local pond.

From 1870 to 1872, another elephant from the Emir of Bukhara was brought to Tsarskoye Selo, however, it was transferred to the St. Petersburg Zoological Garden.

PHOTO: architect’s rendering of the facade of the Elephant Pavilion. 1828 (above; early 20th century view of the courtyard of the pavilion (below)

The last Russian tsar Nicholas II kept elephants

In his 1911 study of Tsarskoye Selo, Sergei Nikolaevich Vilchkovsky (1871-1928), notes that a young elephant lived in Tsarskoye Selo in July 1891.

During his journey to the Far East in 1891-92, Nicholas Alexandrovich, while still a grand duke and tsesarevich, returned to Russia with his first Indian elephant. Five years later – in August 1896 – another elephant arrived from Abyssinia (Ethiopia).

Sadly, the Indian elephant did not live long. The harsh Russian winters and lack of proper care led to the poor animals demise in 1902. The African elephant, faired much better, he lived until 1917.

PHOTO: Tsesarevich Alexei (left) and his friends, watch as Tsar Nicholas II preparing to feed the elephant in the Alexander Park. Pierre Gilliard can be seen standing to the right. 1914

PHOTO: this photo allows us to appreciate the height of this magnificent animal. Nicholas II and his children can be seen standing in the background. 1914

The African elephant was under the care of a Tartar – ironically called Alexei – who always wore a red fez, noted that the elephant was “good-natured and very obedient”. Every day during the summer, the Tatar walked the animal in the Alexander Park, where it was taken to a tiny lake, which was appropriately named “Elephant pond”. The elephant happily plunged into the water, taking water in his trunk, and dousing itself.

It is interesting to note that the animal was never given a name, it was simply called “Elephant”.

The Tsar and his family loved to spend time with the elephant, often bringing their friends and relatives. Nicholas II repeatedly made entries in his diary that he and his son and heir went to watch the elephant bathe. On 9th June 1914, Nicholas made the following entry in his diary: “Alexei and I brought an elephant to our pond and amused ourselves with its bathing.” Being fond of photography, the Tsar took several pictures of his elephant.

PHOTO: Emperor Nicholas II feeding his “pet” elephant in the Alexander Park. 1914

PHOTO: the Emperor distributes treats to his children, all of whom are anxious to feed the elephant. 1914

PHOTO: It is interesting to note that the animal was never given a name, it was simply called “Elephant”. 1914

When the Tatar saw the Tsar approach, he bowed low to him and hurried away to bring out the elephant with it’s long, sprawling ears, tiny eyes with long eye lashes, and always moving about. The Tsar was always accompanied by his children among other guests, anxious to watch the animal do tricks.

Alexei [the Tatar] spoke to the elephant in a foreign language, at which the animal obeyed. A number of tree stumps were scattered in the courtyard, and upon command, the elephant began to move them one by one. The elephant then stood on all fours, on the largest. He then lifted his trunk, making a loud trumpet sound, as if greeting us. After each performance, the Tatar gave the elephant a sugar cube, which the elephant put into its mouth. At the end of the visit, the Tatar brought out a large basket of French rolls and offered them to the guests, give to the elephant, who readily took each one with his trunk, and placing them in his mouth. The guests were always charmed by the animal’s gentleness.

When the Tatar tapped the elephant on its front leg, the elephant would lay on its side, at which Alexei [the Tatar] would get behind the animal’s ear and cover himself like a blanket. Then, the elephant stood up, took Alexei with his trunk and sat him on his neck. On Sundays, a saddle was placed on the elephant, which had side seats.

PHOTOS: on warm summer days, the elephant was taken to the “Elephant Pond”, which was located in the Alexander Park at Tsarskoye Selo

The elephant knelt down again, and the children and adults would climb into the side chairs of the saddle and take for a ride around the coutryard. After riding the elephant, the passengers got out, and others sat in their place. As a reward, the elephant received sweet buns, which he loved very much. When the animal went for a swim in the pond, an entire procession of guests was formed. Alexei [the Tatar] seated on the animal’s neck, led the procession of children and adults, who followed behind to the “Elephant Pond”

The care and maintenance of keeping such an exotic pet did not come cheap: 18 thousand rubles from the treasury were allocated each year. The elephant was fed mostly hay, supplemented with tortillas fried in butter, sugar cubes, apples and other treats.

PHOTO: the elephant never failed to charm the Tsar, his children and other visitors, as it swam and splashed about in the pond in the Alexander Park.

The fate of the Tsar’s elephant and the elephant pavilion

Following the 1917 Revolution, Nicholas II was forced to abdicate, whereupon he and his family were forced to live under house arrest in the Alexander Palace. So what happened to the elephant?

There is a widespread myth that during the revolution, that the elephant was shot by sailors. Allegedly, the revolutionaries perceived the elephant as a symbol of autocracy and the luxurious life led by the imperial family.

PHOTO: Nicholas II’s African elephant has been preserved to this day, in the Darwin Museum in Moscow

But in reality, they tried to transport the elephant to Moscow, where it would be placed in the city’s zoological gardens. Alas, the animal did not survive the long journey, got sick and died in 1917. However, the elephant was still taken to Moscow, where it was sent to a taxidermist, and into a museum exhibit. It took about ten years: the best taxidermists of the capital worked on the body. So the African pet of Nicholas II can still be seen in the Darwin Museum to this day.

During the Patriotic War of 1941-1944, the Elephant Pavilion in the Alexander Park was severely damaged during the Nazi occupation of Tsarskoye Selo. The only thing which was preserved were the chimneys – everything else was destroyed. There are no plans to reconstruct the Elephant Pavilion at the present time.

© Paul Gilbert. 14 November 2023

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