Billy Williams came to colonial Burma in 1920, fresh from service in World War I, to a job as a “forest man” for a British teak company. Mesmerized by the intelligence, character, and even humor of the great animals who hauled logs through the remote jungles, he became a gifted “elephant wallah.” Increasingly skilled at treating their illnesses and injuries, he also championed more humane treatment for them, even establishing an elephant “school” and “hospital.” In return, he said, the elephants made him a better man.

In 1942, when the Japanese invaded Burma, Williams joined a British Special Forces unit that specialized in guerrilla warfare. Deep in the jungle, his elephant company built bridges and ferried weapons and supplies. Cornered by the Japanese, they faced their most daunting test, an epic trek across several mountain ranges to India—and safety.

Read more about Billy Williams in Elephant Company by Vicki Constantine Croke

Source: How Burmese Elephants Helped Defeat the Japanese in World War II

---

Rights to all content (text, images, videos etc.) with post source. If you think these are wrongly attributed email us

Read more »

If you so much as kick a dog or cat in many nations, you would likely have to answer to local authorities. But in Africa, the venerable elephant — long considered one of the most intelligent animals on earth — still suffers at the hands of brutal poachers. A reminder of Africa's persistent elephant-poaching problem came on Friday when Tsavo Trust confirmed that a 45-year-old elephant named Satao, living in Tsavo East National Park in Kenya, was found killed by poachers on May 30.

Source: One of the World's Largest Elephants Killed by Ivory Poachers in Kenya

---

Rights to all content (text, images, videos etc.) with post source. If you think these are wrongly attributed email us

Read more »

In South Africa, local legend has it that the elephants like to get drunk. They seek out the marula tree, overindulge on its sweet fruits, and enjoy the intoxicating effects of the slightly fermented juice.

Elephants aren't the only critters accused of indulging in the occasional cocktail or dose of drugs. Tales are told of wallabies getting high on poppy plants in Australia or dogs reportedly becoming addicted to the toxic substance secreted by cane toads. And stories abound of vervet monkeys on the Carribean island of St. Kitts, sneakily imbibing the brightly coloured cocktails of distracted tourists.

Source: BBC - Future - Do animals like drugs and alcohol?

---

Rights to all content (text, images, videos etc.) with post source. If you think these are wrongly attributed email us

Read more »