Zhengzhou zookeepers teach star elephant overcome disability

Babu had one-third of his trunk amputated after an accident 22 years ago

Undeterred by the scorching morning heat late last month, an eager crowd encircled the leafy elephant enclosure at Zhengzhou Zoo, in the capital of Henan province, craning their necks and hoping to snap photos.

The lone star of the scene was an aging Asian bull elephant named Babu. The average life span of elephants is about 50 to 70 years, and Babu, age 40 and weighing 4 metric tons, was about to eat brunch.