My ability from past
experience to work with animals has been previously noted on
Sharpe. Taking precautions about rabies I had already worked
with elephants and camels in India and had absolutely no fear
of them - despite regular abuse from their mahouts I continued
to enjoy a close relationship with them, feeding them with treats
almost every day they were on-set. The result was various 'tricks'
we both did together and noted by passing journalists. The elephant
seen here is 'Nellie', a firm friend of the author (seen here)
and the female of the pair used on Sharpe's Peril ; but the male
elephant did have what was described as 'off-days' when he was
singularly bad-tempered' and on one occasion did seem to prefer
to eat the author rather than
the banana on offer … |