Edited by Kees Rookmaaker
Clara the Rhinoceros tells the marvellous story of the most famous rhinoceros in history.
Clara or the Dutch Rhinoceros was exhibited by her owner Captain Douwe Mout van der Meer throughout Europe, from her arrival in 1741 to her death in 1758. Viewed by thousands, her life was long forgotten, but has been brought alive again from research starting in the 1970s. These pages pay tribute to her life, providing information where she was shown, who saw her, how she increasingly altered the understanding of her species in the eighteenth century.
Research into the travels of the rhinoceros Clara in 18th century Europe requires extensive linguistic skills. Documents and newspapers were written by visitors and naturalists throughout the countries visited, using Latin, Dutch, German, French, Italian, Polish and English. All sources are here presented in the original languages, often followed by the same text in “Translate” – which is in most cases generated through Google Translate service. As the originals were in old versions of the languages, accuracy is not guaranteed, but it gives a good idea of the contents. Some longer texts remain in the original only.
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Please send comments and additions to the editor for regular updates in the documentation of the life of Clara, the Dutch Rhinoceros, exhibited throughout Europe 1741 to 1758.
