Counting Elephants Trivia Quiz

Answer: John Hurt

In this 1980 film John Hurt plays John Merrick, a man originally exhibited in a Victorian freak show because of the deformity of his skull. The film, which is shot in black and white, is based on the true story of Joseph Merrick. John Hurt's make up for the film was based on casts taken from the body of Joseph Merrick, which is in the private museum of the Royal London Hospital. The film received great critical acclaim, and was nominated for eight Oscars, but did not win any.

John Hurt played Quentin Crisp in the 1975 made for television film "The Naked Civil Servant". He reprised the role nearly 30 years later in "An Englishman In New York", a portrayal of Crisps later life in America.

Answer: Kenya

As warden of Tsavo National Park in Kenya David Sheldrick took in his first orphan elephant in 1952. Those over two years old survived, but for years he and his wife struggled to hand rear baby elephants under that age. It was not until 1987 that a reliable milk formula substitute was found. Since then it has been possible to hand rear baby elephants from as young as two weeks old. David Sheldrick died in 1977, but his work in Kenya, not only with elephants but with many other conservation projects, set a pattern in how to run wildlife parks for the rest of the world.

His widow has carried on his work with baby elephants, and also heads the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a charity formed in his honour.

Answer: Salvador Dali

Painted in 1937 'Swans Reflecting Elephants' is three swans in front of leafless trees reflected in water. The reflection turns the swans heads into elephants heads and the trees into their bodies. Dali did several of these reflection distortion paintings including 'Metamorphosis of Narcissus'. His most famous painting is possibly 'Persistence of Memory' which features melting watches.

Answer: Polo

The rules governing elephant polo were established in 1982 when the World Elephant Polo Association was born. It is based within the Royal Chitwan Park in Nepal. Elephant Polo is played mainly in Nepal and Thailand, although it has also been played in India and Sri Lanka.

The pitch is about three quarters the size of a normal polo pitch due to elephants being slower than horses. A normal sized polo ball is used, with mallets being normal polo mallet heads on ten foot long bamboo poles. There are two riders per elephant, a mahout to steer and a player to instruct on direction and hit the ball. Teams consist of five players and mixed male/female teams are common. Teams are not limited to those from countries with native elephants.

In the past Spain have fielded a team and Scotland were world champions in both 2005 and 2009.

Answer: Water for Elephants

"Water for Elephants" received mixed reviews. It follows the story of a young circus vet who falls in love with the wife of the circus owner. Much of the film is told in flashback to a time just after the Depression. The novel on which it is based is written as a series of memoirs, and both the film and the book finish in the present time with the vet (Jacob), played in the film by Robert Pattinson as young Jacob, and Hall Holbrook as Old Jacob, now in his nineties, leaving his nursing home to rejoin the circus as a ticket seller. The novel was originally written for National Novel Writing Month.

Answer: King

The story of "Babar The Elephant" was published in France in 1931. An English version appeared in both England and America in 1933, and it became an immediate success. It follows Babar from the time he is forced to flee from hunters to his return to the the jungle. He returns just as the King dies, and because he has learned so much on his travels he is made King.

Answer: Mandy Miller

The record was produced by George Martin, who went on to become famous as the producer of The Beatles. Although it was not a chart hit the record was a great favourite on radio shows such as "Children's Favourites".

Child actress Mandy Miller appeared in television series such as "Compact" (1962) and Sunday's Child"(1959). She also made appearances in several films including "The Man In The White Suit" (1951) and "Dance Little Lady" (1954). By the time she was 18 she had retired and moved to New York where she worked as an au pair.

Answer: Hatari!

Written by Henry Mancini the tune is simple and catchy. It is meant to depict a large toddler plodding along. It is one of many film themes he wrote. His credits include "The Pink Panther", "Moon River" from "Breakfast at Tiffanys" and the "Peter Gunn Theme".

"Hatari", which means danger in Swahili, starred John Wayne. It is about a group of people in East Africa trapping wild animals to sell to zoos. The subject matter is possibly the reason it is not often seen, even on obscure television channels, these days.

Answer: The Turner Prize

Nigerian born Chris Ofili is known for his elephant dung paintings. He obtains his supplies from London Zoo, and dries the dung in an airing cupboard before use. In 1998 he won the Turner Prize, which is given annually for modern art. Although it carries a cash award the main benefit of the Turner Prize is the cachet it gives a modern artist.

It is often controversial, having been awarded to such things as an unmade bed (Tracey Emen), and to cross dressing ceramicist Grayson Perry.

Answer: Elephant's graveyard

The origins of this legend are uncertain. It says that when the time comes for it to die an elephant will detach itself from the herd and go to the elephant's graveyard and die there. For years many people searched for this mythical place to find the ivory from dead elephants.

In fact there is no such thing. It possibly arose from the fact that groups of elephant skeletons have been found together, often near water. This is more an indication that in hard times elephants will gravitate to where there is some food or water to be found, but often a group die off happens through malnutrition.