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. Brandishing a flagpole flying the national colours by the trunk, lead elephant Ulu marched outside a conservation office in northern Aceh province as onlookers sung the national anthem.
Flanked by friends Johanna and Isabella, Ulu walked slowly over to a group of handlers to relinquish the flag, which was then solemnly hoisted by officials. Afterward the elephants paraded around the conservation area, crossing a nearby river and circling parts of the surrounding national park.