elephantophile

plural elephantophiles

1. One who loves elephants.

   The crew of the States Steamship Line’s SS. Washington, now in port, are all elephantophiles … (elephant-lovers to you).

   1953 September 24, Norm Hacking, “Best Known Coast Skipper On Last Voyage”, in The Vancouver Province, 56th year, number 152, Vancouver, B.C., page 27

   5 more examples

   But more and most he enjoyed, as he always does, going down to see the elephants; finding Babe, his favorite elephant; patting her, complimenting her, feeding her bread, peanuts, carrots. A bachelor, Mr. Brush is a consistent elephantophile.

   1929, Time, page 64

   He prefers the company of elephantophiles because elephants are his favorite topic of conversation, although Ada’s family, including the cats, once rolled up at Bucky’s for an extended visit.

   1976, Mother Jones, page 42

   Call the Kings elephantophiles, a condition that began February 12, 1964, with a four-foot-high plush elephant named Twinkles.

   1980 March 23, “King Elephant Is in the Swim”, in The Atlanta Journal and Constitution Magazine, volume 30, number 91, Atlanta, Ga., page 10

   There is, perhaps fortunately for elephantophiles, no graphic record of this shameful scene, which did nothing to discourage belief in the accepted classical myth.

   1986, T. H. Clarke, The Rhinoceros from Dürer to Stubbs, 1515-1799, Sotheby’s Publications, page 157

   Now, the elephant and the mouse. Senator Cogger obviously is an “elephantophile”—he loves elephants. I have a weakness for mice.

   1988 February 4, Debates: Official Report (Hansard), Canada, Parliament, Senate, page 2647