Killing an Elephant for food, Food shortages, Siege of Paris, December 1870


Original engraving from The Illustrated London news of 28 January 1871. Info from wiki: Castor and Pollux were two elephants kept at the zoo Jardin des Plantes in Paris. They were killed and eaten, along with many other animals from the zoo, in late 1870 during the siege of Paris. They had been popular before the siege for giving rides on their backs around the park, but the food shortages caused by the German blockade of the city eventually drove the citizens of Paris to kill them for their meat. Artists sketch sent by balloon post during the siege & published by ILN on the 28 January 1871 unaware that the city had that day already surrendered.


Size: 5352px × 5776px
Location: Paris, France
Photo credit: © Historical Images Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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