LARGE MAMMAL VISITS BIG GOVERNMENT--King Tusk, billed by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey as the "largest land mammal traveling the face of the earth," makes a stop at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Sept. 3, 1998. The 53-year old, 11,762-pound pachyderm has been traveling throught the Midwest as a "goodwill ambassador", in an awareness campaign for the survival of the endangered Asian elephant. Standing 10 feet tall, with a girth of 14 feet, the big boy consumes 200+ lbs. of food per day. King Tusk can be seen at the Columbus Zoo- which sponsored today's event, through Sept. 13.

PACHYDERM FRIENDLY--U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula, R-Ohio, appears with King Tusk-billed as the worlds largest traveling mammal, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Sept. 3, 1998. Regula was supportive of the Asian Elephant Conservation Act of 1997, singed into law on Nov. 19, 1997 by President Bill Clinton.

LOOKS REPUBLICAN--King Tusk, an Asian Elephant , appears on the grounds of the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Sept. 3, 1998.

GETTING PRIMPED--Ringling Bros, and Barnum & Bailey trainer David Polke readies King Tusk for an appearance at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Sept. 3, 1998. King Tusk, whose ivory measures 6 feet x 1.5 feet, will be staying at the Columbus Zoo until Sept. 13, and then resume his Midwest tour.