JAPAN: A trio of elephants at a Japanese zoo spread seasonal cheer with a rendition of Christmas songs using bells

Record ID: 185236

  • Title: JAPAN: A trio of elephants at a Japanese zoo spread seasonal cheer with a rendition of Christmas songs using bells
  • Date: 26th November 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) MAI FUJITA, 28-YEAR-OLD, ELEPHANT TRAINER AT ICHIHARA ELEPHANT KINGDOM SAYING: "When they complete their song successfully they respond to the applause and their mahoots tell them they've done a good job, however if they've missed a note you can also tell they get really disappointed." FEMALE ELEPHANT NAMED POORI WITH HER HALF-MONTH YEAR OLD CALF YUMEKA YUMEKA PLAYING AROUND NEAR HER MOTHER YUMEKA AND POORI LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 11th December 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA847OUOFDF4N3WPQEXU352N7J5
  • Story Text: Move over Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen.
    In Japan, elephants Terri and Minister and Mami are set to bring Christmas cheer to this part of Asia.
    The three Asian elephants have been practicing intensively over the last few weeks to learn Christmas song "Jingle Bells" to mark the holiday season.
    In a press preview at the Ichihara Elephant Kingdom on Thursday (November 22), the pachyderms used their slender trunks to beat, or rings the bells in time to the Christmas favourite.
    The Christmas show in which the elephants will perform will officially open to the public on December 2nd, but already the nimble-nosed trio are already behaving as true artists.

    "When they complete their song successfully they respond to the applause and their mahoots tell them they've done a good job, however if they've missed a note you can also tell they get really disappointed,"
    said elephant trainer Mai Fujita of Ichihara Elephant Kingdom. Fujita also noted that artistic abilities in elephants is not rare and the animal itself is one of the most intelligent after primates and at par with dolphins.
    Waiting backstage is the relatively tiny Yumeka, a female calf born earlier this year in May.
    She may be too busy rolling about in the dirt to learn to play a musical instrument just yet but trainers are confident she will be a fast learner.
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