Prince
Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) at
Dublin Zoo in Ireland

Biography
dead elephant ☨ ♂ Prince  dead elephant
Alternative name: Tommy, Poon Tom
Museum locations
Present / last location:Trinity’ College Zoological Museum, in United Kingdom
Date of arrival
1882-00-00Trinity’ College Zoological Museum, , United Kingdom
Identification
EEP nr671
Description
Species:Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)
Sex and age:Male ♂
People killed:1: William Paton
Origin
Born:* wild
Birth place: in Nepal unspecified location
Death
Dead: †1882
Death reason: unknown:
Locations - owners
Present / last location:Dublin Zoo, in Ireland
Date of arrival
Dublin Zoo
from Sandringham Zoo
1871-08-25Sandringham Zoo
from London Zoo
1871-06-03London Zoo
from Euston railway station
Euston railway station
from Plymouth Millbay railway station
Plymouth Millbay railway station
from Sutton Harbour Port of Plymouth
Sutton Harbour Port of Plymouth
from Port of Calcutta
Port of Calcutta
from Duke Alfred of Edinburgh
1871-00-00Duke Alfred of Edinburgh
from Jung Bahadur Rana (Bir Narsingh Kunwar)
Jung Bahadur Rana (Bir Narsingh Kunwar)
from Nepal unspecified location
Record history
History of updates2025-03-18:
Latest document update2025-03-19 16:53:21
Google map

† Prince is a dead Male ♂ Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), , who died 1882 at Dublin Zoo, in Ireland, .

Museum locationThe Museum specimen remains of this animal is within the collection at Trinity’ College Zoological Museum, in , United Kingdom, since 1882-00-00.

Casualties

1 casualties
  1. 1871-06: agent William Paton fatal attack by Prince. On arrival in Plymouth, Toms caretaker, Colonel William Paton managed to get the elephant onboard the train, but after the train reached full speed, Tom panicked and crushed the wall between him and his keeper. When trying to keep him back, Paton was crushed against a wall. † William Paton Died 1871-06


Origin

Prince was born wild at Nepal unspecified location.


Comments / pictures

Records about Prince from EEPEuropean Studbook for Asian elephants state following records for the asian elephant Prince:

671 M ~ Jul 1867 UNK UNK PUBLIC ~ Jan 1871 NONE Transfer TOMMY/PRIN
LONDON RP ~15 Jun 1871 935 Loan to
PUBLIC 25 Aug 1871 NONE ltf Transfer

Source: EEP studbook for Asian elephants online


Tom was a gift from Jung Bahadur Rana (Bir Narsingh Kunwar) of Nepal to Alfred, Duke of Edinbourgh, in March 1871, and was shipped out of Calcutta on the ship H.M.S. Galatea, where the duke was commander. The first week, Tom was cared for by his Indian mahout, who left the ship in Madras, later by a corproral of the marine artillery, Mr. William Paton.

On arrival in Plymouth, William Paton was assisted by two gentlemen from London Zoo, Clarence Bartlett and Mr Smart.

Paton managed to get the elephant onboard the train, but after the train reached full speed, Tom pannicked and crushed the wall between him and his keeper. When trying to keep him back, Paton was crushed against a wall, and died later, before the train arrived in London.

Tom was later brought to Dublin Zoo, where his owner, the Duke of Edinburgh also came to visit him.


Prince Tom gave rides on a Howdah and ‘purchased’ buns from the shop with coins provided by visitors.

Colourful reports in the newspapers suggested that Prince Tom was a docile animal who was relaxed and safe with visitors. This was not true because, on more than one occasion, he had ‘broken loose and endangered himself and others’.

When the Duke of Edinburgh asked that Prince Tom be brought around to the Viceregal Lodge where he was staying on a brief visit, the council had to admit that the elephant was too dangerous for such a walk.

Prince Tom lived in Dublin Zoo until 1882 but his last years were spent in the restricted area of his house and a small yard. When he died, he was drawn on a float to Trinity College Department of Anatomy where he was dissected with the aid of shears, ropes and pulleys. His Skeleton is now in Trinity College Zoological Museum.
How Dublin zoo has morphed, by Catherine de Courcy
Reference list

References

Koehl, Dan, (2025). Prince, Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) located at Dublin Zoo in Ireland. Elephant Encyclopedia, available online retrieved 29 March 2025 at https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=3758. (archived at the Wayback machine)

Sources used for this article is among others:


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Categories1882 deaths | Trinity’ College Zoological Museum Taxidermy | EEP | Elephants from Dublin Zoo | Ireland | Mankillers | Asian elephants




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