TIL about Tuffi the elephant. In 1950 Tuffi the elephant survived a fall from the suspended railway (Schwebebahn) into the river Wupper 12 meters below with just minor injuries. She died in 1989

FlyingSquid , 11 hours ago

Jesus… forced to work in the circus from age 4 in 1950 until her death in 1989. Poor thing. Just put through decades of hell.

SubArcticTundra , 7 hours ago

And imagone being suspended above a river from a railway. Poor thing.

Deceptichum , 7 hours ago

We’ve done elephants dirty.

For such intelligent and capable creatures, we’ve probably treated them some of the worst.

jupyter_rain , 11 hours ago

I think in the city where everything happened she is still kinda famous and even some diary-brand is named like her. Also heard she has a statue somewhere in Wuppertal.

DarkThoughts , 10 hours ago

It's in Wuppertal Barmen near the city hall of that district.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/1uDiCJTWxYUEWmmz7

There's also a gifted sculpture inside of the Wupper.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/9rv8gSN3tNjRkocE7

And a German article about the whole event, including old photographs (the one depicting the fall is a montage I believe):
https://www.spiegel.de/geschichte/wuppertal-zirkus-elefant-tuffi-in-der-schwebebahn-a-1103841.html