Jumbo The Real Dumbo

David Attenborough on the heartbreaking story of the elephant who inspired the Disney movie…

- Hannah Davies

NEW DOCUMENTARY

Attenborough and the Giant Elephant

SUNDAY / BBC1 / 9.00PM

Many of us have seen the classic Disney 1941 movie Dumbo, which tells the tale of a young circus elephant teased for his big ears.

But what is less well-known is that the plot was inspired by a real elephant orphan, Jumbo, who became world-famous in 1882. Tragically, Jumbo’s life was a lonely one and this week in BBC1 documentary Attenborough and the Giant Elephant, Sir David Attenborough investigates the animal’s early death. Here, Sir David, 91, tells us more…

What can you tell us about Jumbo?