"The elephant, according to Aristotle, is the animal that 'passes all others in wit and mind', and indeed its image can be found throughout world religions and cultures as a symbol of intelligence as well as strength and loyalty. In this book, Dan Wylie draws on a rich array of cultural examples to document that symbolic power, ranging from the religious imagery of Ganesh, the Hindu god of wisdom, to enduring works for children, including Dumbo and Babar the elephant. He also describes the elephant's portrayal in the fine arts and literature, and the questionable roles it has endured in zoos and circuses. Only three species are with us today--the African savannah elephant, the African forest elephant and the Asian elephant--all of which are under intense pressure from poachers specifically and constriction of habitat generally. Dan Wylie argues that we face a uniquely poignant conservation crisis, one in which elephants and humans are both competing for limited resources in a frighteningly unsustainable way."--Page 4 of cover.