Tom Thumb
Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) at
Bronx Zoo in United States

Biography

☨ ♂ Tom Thumb

Identification

SSP nr	T2300

Description
Species:	Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)
Sex and age:	Male ♂, unknown age
Origin
Born:	* wild
Birth place:	in Anuradhapura forest
Capture:	1851
Imported:	1851-05-04 by P. T. Barnum
Freight:	by sailship "Regatta"
Death
Dead:	†
Death reason:	killed: Executed by electrocution
Locations - owners
Present / last location:	Bronx Zoo, in United States

Date of arrival

1887-00-00	Bronx Zoo from Barnum & Bailey Circus

1885-00-00	Barnum & Bailey Circus from Barnum and London Circus

1882-00-00	Barnum and London Circus from Central Park Zoo

	Central Park Zoo from P. T. Barnum

1851-05-04	P. T. Barnum from Port of Colombo

1851-00-00	Port of Colombo 1851-00-00 from Anuradhapura forest

Record history
History of updates	2020-10-24: merged with previous 2608, probably only on loan to Central Park zoo 2021-09-15: Importer P.T. Barnum

Latest document update	2021-09-15 16:14:55

† Tom Thumb is a dead Male ♂ Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), , who died at Bronx Zoo, in United States, . Official death reason described as Executed by electrocution .

Origin

The North American Regional Studbook lists this elephant with a Temporary Studbook Number, lacking "supporting documentation to validate their identity."

Tom Thumb was born wild at Anuradhapura forest, captured 1851 . and imported 1851-05-04 by P. T. Barnum, by sailship "Regatta"

Comments / pictures

Records about Tom Thumb from Bob Cline

TOM THUMB 1882 to 1884 - Barnum & London Circus
Male Asian 1885 to 1887 - Barnum & Bailey Circus
Bronx Zoo
Executed by electrocution

Bob Cline, author of the book "Americas elephants".

Reference list

References

Koehl, Dan, (2026). Tom Thumb, Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) located at Bronx Zoo in United States. Elephant Encyclopedia, available online retrieved 19 January 2026 at https://www.elephant.se/database2.php?elephant_id=12832. (archived at the Wayback machine)

Sources used for this article is among others:

The elephant in America 1840-1860, by Stuart Thayer, http://www.circushistory.org/Bandwagon/BW.htm'>Bandwagon
Page 14, 30, Elefanten in Zoo und Circus, Dokumentation 2 Nordamerika, 1997, by European Elephant Group: Haufellner, Schilfarth, Schweiger

Litterature about Bronx Zoo