In Tsarskoye Selo, known for its imperial residence and luxurious parks, one could encounter not only members of the royal family and their entourage in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but also exotic animals. Among them, elephants held a special place, living in a specially built pavilion in Alexander Park. This elephant house was erected in 1828 by architect Adam Menelas and was located near the Stolbovaya Road, close to the Krasnoselskiye Gates.

Elephants became part of life in Tsarskoye Selo starting in 1839, and until 1917, six of these majestic animals were kept here. Nicholas II showed particular interest in the elephants. In 1891, returning from a round-the-world trip, he brought back a young elephant from Ceylon. Later, in 1896, another elephant arrived as a gift from the Negus of Abyssinia, Menelik II. These animals became not only a symbol of exoticism but also favorites of the imperial family. Nicholas II and his children often visited the elephants, fed them, and watched them bathing in the Lamsky Pond.

Caring for the elephants was a challenging and costly endeavor. Their diet included a variety of products: flour, rice, potatoes, carrots, beets, peas, bran, raisins, and sugar. Additionally, milk was delivered daily from the Imperial Farm. These animals required special care and attention, highlighting their status in the imperial court.

However, the fate of the elephants in Tsarskoye Selo changed with the arrival of the revolution. The last of them was planned to be transported to Moscow, but in the autumn of 1917, he died on the way. Later, his skin was transferred to the Darwin Museum, where in 1927 it was made into a taxidermy exhibit. This story underscores not only the exotic aspect of life at the imperial court but also the complex historical changes that affected even such unusual inhabitants of Tsarskoye Selo.