Elephants search for tsunami victims

January 22, 2005 8:37 AM

Lending a trunk, Sumatran elephants have been enlisted to search through the tsunami debris in Banda Aceh. Sure-footed, with a keen sense of smell, they can find bodies still buried in rubble; Medang, who can lift 3 tons, pulled a tree off a Toyota. Here are some Sumatran elephant photos and a bunch of elephant links, Sumatran and otherwise.
posted by Julie (3 comments total)

Speaking of lifting trees, here's this just in from News of the Weird:

In December, a wheel from a tractor-trailer on Interstate 84 in Idaho (glowing hot from an overheated bearing) came off, rolled across a frontage road, and started several fires after it crashed into the home of Charisse Stevenson. According to a report in the Times-News (Twin Falls, Id.), Stevenson, seeing her 10-year-old son trapped by flames on the second floor of their home and separated by the red-hot wheel, moved it out of the way (though it weighs 250 pounds), scooped up her son (135 pounds), and carried him to safety. Afterward, of course, Stevenson was found to be unable to lift either the wheel or her son. [Times-News (Twin Falls, Id.), 12-10-04]

A 135-lb ten-year old?

Sorry. Now back to the elephants.

I have a wonderful CD made mainly by elephants called The Thai Elephant Orchestra. I hope they're all OK.
posted by kozad at 9:33 AM on January 22, 2005

Beautiful. Thanks Julie.

A 135-lb ten-year old?

Not surprising. There are so many fat, unhealthy kids today.
posted by Juicylicious at 11:08 AM on January 22, 2005

Thai Elephant Orchestra is wonderful, especially that drummer.

Any chance they're going on tour? Bet I could book them at Ruta Maya here in Austin.
posted by Julie at 11:51 AM on January 22, 2005