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The elephants of The Hague Zoo
Some old photos
     
     
 

Elephant rides were very common in those days. The visitors even expected this!

On this photo we see a very young elephant with kids on her back. This might be Betsy (IV) or Neeltje. Both came as a young elephant to The Hague in 1937. The photo was published in a special advertising leaflet of the zoo in 1939.

 

Photo: Advertising leaflet of Haagsche Diergaarde, 1939 (collection Gerald Postma)    
     

The zoo had a pool for the elephants in which they could take a bath. The public liked this.

We see on this and the next photo probably Betsy IV and Neeltje.

 
  Photos above and left: Advertising leaflet of Haagsche Diergaarde, 1939 (collection Gerald Postma)
     
Sometimes the elephants were used to do some kind of tough jobs. Dora or Betsy (III) as a snowplough...  
    Photo: Advertising leaflet of Haagsche Diergaarde, 1939 (collection Gerald Postma)
 

Suze was probably an elephant of Wassenaar Zoo who visited The Hague Zoo during the winter of 1941-1942 (for unknown reasons). We see her here walking back to the city of Wassenaar (near The Hague) in the Spring of 1942.

Photo: Magazine De Spiegel, 1942 (collection Gerald Postma)

 
    Photo: Magazine De Spiegel, 1942 (collection Gerald Postma)