Sophy Roberts' "Schule der Elefanten" Reconstructs Leopold II's 1879 Elephant Caravan Across Africa
In "Schule der Elefanten," journalist Sophy Roberts delves into the 1879 expedition led by Frederick Falkner Carter, commissioned by Belgian King Leopold II to transport four Indian elephants from Zanzibar to the Congo. Retracing Carter's path through Tanzania, Roberts engages with local communities and conducts extensive historical research. She uncovered a dilapidated elephant training facility from the Belgian colonial era in the Congo. Her findings shed light on Leopold II's imperial ambitions and the harsh treatment of animals. The expedition featured several European figures and underscored the significance of steam navigation and the Suez Canal. Leopold II governed the Congo from 1885 to 1908, during which time rubber and elephant tusks were major exports. The book, set for release by Paul Zsolney Verlag in 2026, includes historical maps and narratives.
Key facts
- Sophy Roberts' book "Schule der Elefanten" reconstructs an 1879 expedition led by Frederick Falkner Carter for Belgian King Leopold II.
- The expedition sought to bring four Indian working elephants from Zanzibar to the Congo via Lake Tanganyika.
- Roberts retraced Carter's route through present-day Tanzania with two companions.
- In 2015, Roberts discovered a ruined elephant training station at Gangala-na-Bodio in the Congo from Belgian colonial times.
- Leopold II ruled the Congo from 1885 to 1908 over an area eighty times the size of Belgium.
- Rubber exports rose 1000% under Leopold II, enforced by the Force Publique, which mutilated farmers who missed quotas.
- From 1889 to 1908, about 94,000 elephant tusks arrived in Antwerp.
- The book was published by Paul Zsolney Verlag, Vienna, 2026, 444 pages, translated by Brigitte Hitzensauer.
Entities
Artists
- Sophy Roberts
- Frederick Falkner Carter
- Leopold II
- Henry Morton Stanley
- Ebenezer Southon
- Mirambo
- Brigitte Hitzensauer
- Michael Turek
- Alexander Bassano
Institutions
- Paul Zsolney Verlag
- Association Internationale Africaine
- Force Publique
- kultur-port.de
Locations
- Sansibar
- Tanzania
- Dar-es-Salaam
- Lake Tanganyika
- Congo
- Belgium
- Antwerp
- London
- Brussels
- Mesopotamia
- Iraq
- Gangala-na-Bodio
- Vienna
- Austria
- Berlin
- Germany
- Egypt
- Suez Canal