Species: Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus)
Status: Critically endangered
The elephant cemetery
Sumatran legend
There are various legends in Sumatra about the secret life of elephants. In one beautiful story they gather on moonlit nights in the jungle, stand on their hind legs, raise their trunks, and greet the moon with dancing in a circle.
According to one legend, there is a tree on a lonely mountain that serves as the "death tree" of the elephants. When they grow old and sick, they go up on the mountain, lie down under the tree, and die there. The tree is surrounded by white elephant bones. Story says a man once happened on the cemetery, and realized he could become rich by selling all the ivory. He lifted two tusks on his shoulders and started on the way back... but he walked and walked in circles, and could not find the path anywhere. He eventually realized that he could not leave the mountain until he put the tusks back where they belonged. The forest protected the cemetery, and the privacy of the elephants.
How can I help?
Read about conservation efforts here or here.
What else do you think elephants (or other animals) do in secret when no human is watching?
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