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A MUSEUM visitor has snapped the trunk of a stuffed elephant which has been on public display for more than 100 years.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum attraction Sir Roger lost the tip of his trunk at the hands of a child during the Easter holidays.

Staff at the Glasgow venue were able to reattach it but the joint is visible so they plan to call in experts to see if it can be hidden.

Visitor Daisy Findlay, eight, from the city’s Jordanhill, spotted the cracked trunk.

She said: “When I asked a lady who works there what had happened to Sir Roger’s trunk, she told me a child had touched it and it had fallen off.

“She said lots of children ignore the signs telling people not to touch the displays.

“It’s really sad because Sir Roger is one of my favourite things at the museum. I hope they can fix him properly and that people stop touching him.”

Kelvingrove manager Neil Ballantyne said: “A visit to Kelvingrove wouldn’t be complete without seeing Sir Roger, whose story has captivated and enthralled generations of visitors.

“Like all of us, he isn’t getting any younger. Sir Roger’s popularity means some visitors reach out to touch his trunk, leading to him suffering the occasional injury.

“We’re sure no one would want to see Sir Roger damaged and that’s why we ask visitors not to touch exhibits.

“While temporary repairs have been carried out, our team of experts will be fully restoring Sir Roger to his former glory in the weeks ahead.”

The Asian elephant toured the country with Bostock and Wombwell’s Menagerie in the late 1800s before going to live in a Glasgow zoo. But at the age of 27 in 1900, he developed a condition called musth, in which raised testosterone causes aggression.

The out-of-control animal attacked zoo staff and broke an arm and several ribs of his keeper.

Sir Roger’s owner, Edward Henry Bostock, had him killed by four gunmen. One of the bullet holes is still visible in the elephant’s forehead.

Having been stuffed by a taxidermist, the elephant was given artificial tusks and put on display in Kelvingrove.

He stands alongside Kelvin, a young male Indian elephant which died of natural causes in the same zoo.

Sir Roger remained in place during the museum’s £35million refurbishment and is still one of the most popular items following its 2006 reopening.