A large consignment of wild animals from Africa , destined for English Zoos , was unloaded from the Union Castle Liner , Good Hope Castle , at Victoria Dock , London , England . In charge of them was big game hunter , Mrs HR Stanton . Matilda , an orphaned rhino , goes on the bottle with her warthog pal Charlie . He is going to Bristol Zoo , she to Belle Vue Zoo , Manchester , where she will be first of her species there for seven years . 11 August 1947