In a stunning display of animal ingenuity, Dumbo the elephant at the Metropolitan Zoo has not only figured out how to use a selfie stick but is now lawyering up for a cut of the profits from his internet-famous photos. Zookeepers report that Dumbo snatched a visitor's selfie stick during a routine feeding session and, within minutes, was snapping perfectly angled shots of his majestic trunk and soulful eyes. The photos, which Dumbo somehow uploaded to Instagram via a borrowed smartphone, have amassed over 10 million likes, turning the gray giant into an overnight sensation.

Dumbo's journey to selfie stardom began innocently enough when a group of tourists left their gadgets unattended near his enclosure. Witnesses say the elephant extended the stick with his trunk, balanced it precariously, and hit the shutter button with pinpoint accuracy. 'It was like watching a pro photographer at work,' said one astonished visitor. 'He even adjusted for lighting and added filters mentally or something. We're not sure how.'

The viral posts feature Dumbo in various poses: winking at the camera, blowing water from his trunk like a fountain, and even photobombing a nearby giraffe. Social media users are obsessed, with hashtags like #DumboSelfie and #TrunkTok trending worldwide. Influencers are clamoring for collaborations, but Dumbo's representatives—yes, he has reps now—are holding out for the big bucks.

Enter the royalties drama. Dumbo, through a team of animal rights lawyers, is demanding 70% of all ad revenue generated from his images. 'Our client has been exploited long enough,' stated lead attorney Fiona Trunkworth in a press conference. 'These aren't just cute pics; they're intellectual property created by Dumbo's own trunk-work. The zoo's been profiting off his back—er, trunk—for years.'

Zoo officials are scrambling to respond, with the director issuing a statement that reads like a bad apology tweet. 'We value Dumbo's contributions and are open to negotiations, perhaps in the form of extra peanuts or a bigger mud bath.' But animal activists are rallying behind the elephant, arguing this could set a precedent for other zoo stars, like that panda who does yoga poses.

Critics, however, are skeptical. 'An elephant demanding royalties? What's next, monkeys suing for banana tariffs?' quipped one online commenter. Yet, legal experts point out that under obscure wildlife copyright laws, Dumbo might have a case, especially since he technically pressed the button himself. This isn't the first time; remember the monkey selfie lawsuit from a few years back?

As the story unfolds, Dumbo continues to snap away, undeterred by the controversy. His latest post? A meta-selfie of him reading a newspaper article about himself. If this pachyderm's rise to fame teaches us anything, it's that in the age of social media, even elephants can go viral—and demand their fair share of the peanuts.