Sonny Stanfield, age 9, of Tulsa, Okla.,for his question:

What does a jungle elephant eat?

Jumbo, four tons heavy and ten feet tall, holds the title of World's Largest Land Animal. To support his huge bulk in the wild, he needs a quarter ton of food and 50 gallons of water every day, At sundown he seeks a water hole, bathes and drinks his fill. Feeding takes most of the night as he roams over grassy plains and through thick forests. He dines on canes, grasses, fruit, nuts, tuber roots and green leaves. The big fellow is a strict vegetarian.

The amazing trunk does the duties of hand, arm, drinking cup and built‑in shower. It has nostrils and a grasping end. He sucks water half way up and squirts it into his mouth to drink and uses the same trick to give himself a mud bath. Without his wonderful trunk, jumbo could neither eat nor drink. Leaves and tufts of grass are torn free with the grasping end and the supple trunk stuffs them into his mouth.

Tusks are used to root up tubers. The ends may wear down, but no matter. They continue to grow from the roots. The food is chomped by 24 molars ‑six on each side above and below. In time, these teeth wear and fall out and an old elephant may be left with only two pair of grinders.

Grass is good, but Jumbo loves best the tender yov_ng leaves out of reach on the treetops. He selects a tree, presses his powerful forehead against its trunk with tusks on either side and then he rocks. A few small shoves and one big heave and down falls the tree bringing Jumbos favorite delicacy vrithin reach.

For all his size, Jumbo is a model of good character and good sense. He is a herd animal and shares life on friendly terms with several married couples and children of all ages. The herd is careful to travel so that even the smallest elephants child can keep up.

Hunters have many tales of the affectionate friendship between wild elephants. Carl Akeley, hunter and artist, shot an elephant and saw two others come to its aid. Ten more arrived to lend sympathetic trunks and tusks to lift their fallen friend. Akeley cast this noble scene in bronze.

In spite of all his kindness, Big Jumbo is no patsy, He defends his herd with bellowing fury. He also insists on good conduct in the herd. Sometimes a bull elephant goes wild ‑ and becomes a menace, The adults drive this delinquent from the herd until he comes to his senses. `Then he cools off, he usually returns and all is forgiven ‑ which is just what you would expect from the gentle giants who are also among the smartest animals in the world.