Hansken

Hansken (1630 – 9 November 1655 in Florence) was a female Sri Lankan elephant that became famous in early 17th-century Europe.

She toured many countries, demonstrating circus tricks, and influenced many artists including Stefano della Bella, Theodoor van Thulden and notably, Rembrandt.

[1] Hansken was born in what was then Ceylon and was brought to Holland in 1637 at the request of Prince Frederick Henry.

Pliny even reports that an elephant had learned to write words in the Greek alphabet.

[3] Hansken did not live up to these expectations, but she could wave a flag, fire a pistol, strike a drum, hold out her front feet, pinch money from pockets, put on a hat, carry a bucket of water, and pick up coins from the ground.