Loxodonta africana. Afrikaanse savanneolifant / Éléphant de savane d’Afrique / African bush elephant. Kasai, DR Congo. Field-collected by Max Poll.1956. M.25421.
A zoological expedition by the Museum
In July 1956, the Museum of Tervuren undertook a major zoological mission to Ituri and Kasai, led by the ichthyologist (fish expert) Max Poll (1908-1991). He was accompanied by two museum employees. This elephant was shot during this expedition by Chevalier de Wouters, in Kasai on 4 August. The elephant fell in a precarious position against a large tree, and hundreds of Congolese were called in to move it. The preparation of the skin, skull, and remaining bones took several days. The main objective of the zoological expedition was to create dioramas for a large audience in the Museum.
Travelling by air meant that the Poll mission could obtain a large number of specimens representative of Congo’s various ecosystems quickly. In total, they collected 343 skins, 357 skulls and 52 complete skeletons from elephants, okapis, chimpanzees, hippos, giraffes, leopards, etc. The elephant was exhibited at the Brussels World’s Fair between March and October 1958, before returning to the Museum at the end of that year.
A discussion about an elephant
This history, which led to the journey of this elephant from Congo to Belgium, raises questions; but the transition from African animal to lifeless stuffed animal, and its transformation into an exhibition object, is questionable as well.
Chéri Samba’s painting Réorganisation, on display in the Introduction Zone, shows Congolese and Belgians struggling, in the foreground, over the plaster cast of the Leopard Man. The Museum’s stuffed elephant is the first problematic object to be removed from the building. It seems to be watching the scene from the background. Although it is standing like a sculpture on a small pedestal, its recognisable silhouette stands out against the greenery behind it, as if it has regained a part of its natural environment and some of its zest for life.
Chéri Samba (Congolese, Kinto M’Vuila, 1956 – lives and works in Kinshasa), Réorganisation (Reorganisatie / Reorganisation). Kinshasa. DR Congo. June 2002. Oil on canvas. Purchased from Chéri Samba. 2002. HO.0.1.3865.
