British Indian Army elephants in India

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British Indian Army
Type	private
Founded	1895
Closed down	1947
Country	India
Website	Website
Related persons
Owner

Zoological department
Elephant department
Record history
History of updates	2021-12-23

Latest document update	2021-12-23 19:57:50

Description

British Indian Army elephants, India , was founded in 1895. British Indian Army elephants closed down in 1947.

Comments / picturesDuring the British 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia, when the British Indian Army under general Robert Cornelius Napier rescued the british hostage of Emperor Theodore of Abyssinia, 44 asian elephants were used.

The hostage were Protestant missionaries kept as prisoners in the emperors mountain capital of Magdala, as well as two British diplomats who had unsuccessfully attempted to free them.

Most of the army left from Bombay aand arrived in October 1867 in Port Zula with 16 000 mules, 6 000 camels, 3 000 horses, and 44 Asian elephants. The British captured Magdala 3 April 1868, and Emperor Tewodros took his own life.

5 elephants are supposed to have died on the expedition.

Napier was later nobled Sir Robert Cornelius Napier, 1st baron Napier of Magdala.

References for records about British Indian Army

Recommended Citation

Koehl, Dan (2025). British Indian Army, Elephant Encyclopedia. Available online at https://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1565. (archived at the Wayback machine)

Sources used for this article is among others:

War elephants, By John M. Kistler

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