A trio of rare elephants led an unusual ceremony in the Sumatran jungle Friday, raising Indonesia’s red and white flag to help mark the country’s independence day. Afterward the elephants paraded around the conservation area, crossing a nearby river and circling parts of the surrounding national park. Sumatran elephants are a critically endangered species and face threats from poaching and rampant deforestation. At least 11 wild elephants died in Aceh last year, most killed by humans, according to conservation officials. The environment ministry estimates only around 500 Sumatran elephants remain in Aceh.

Source: The Guardian August 18, 2018 10:52 UTC