Albino elephants - facts about rare animals
Have you ever seen these elephants? They are really rare. Sometimes they are called albino though they are not actually white. These powerful creatures are considered sacred in Asia and Africa.
Albino animals don't have pigment in their skin and fascinate people with their unusual appearance. As for white elephants, they are not really albino. Thai word combination for 'white elephant' means 'white' in terms of purity and not the color.
#1 Symbol of wealth
There is a lot of symbolism about this species. Albino elephant is considered to be a symbol of good luck and business success in Asia. A white elephant was even depicted on the flag of Thailand in different designs (1820 - 1912). In the past the number of elephants defined the status of a king and his power. If a king had several albino elephants it was a good sign for the country.
Do you know what modern flag of Thailand look like? Put your knowledge on world flags to test in this quiz.
#2 What is the connection between white elephants and expensive gifts?
Albino elephants were considered sacred. That means they were not used for work. The owners provided them with expensive food and care. However, the kings presented these exclusive animals to people who displeased them as a kind of punishment. Today this word combination means a present which is very expensive though useless.
#3 What is the real color of white elephants?
It might sound strange but albino elephants are actually light brown in color. The color gets a light pink shade when animals are wet. These elephants have white eyelashes and toenails. Their appearance is quite impressive.
If you like these fantastic animals you'll also like this article about other albino animals.
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You'll also like the article about unusual all black animals.
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