You didn't happen to notice a peckish-looking elephant hanging around did you?
ELEPHANT EATS TILLEY HAT -- THREE TIMES
(As time passed, so did the Hat…)
"From time to time, we get asked if this is actually a true story. Some seem to think that perhaps it more of a myth or a fisherman's tale. However, it is a true story - all of it. We even have a picture.
The Hat-Eating Elephant
Michael, an animal trainer from Ontario, Canada, used to train elephants. One of his ‘students’ developed the habit of snatching off and eating Michael’s beloved Tilley Hat. Time would pass. Michael would find the Hat, wash it, and carry on. When we asked him to give us his well-travelled Tilley for our mini-museum in exchange for a new one, he declined.
(We were secretly pleased!) "