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In the past, elephants Aceh became a symbol of greatness. People's respect in some ceremonies.In order to handle a wild elephant attacks against the settlement residents, a number of veterinary specialists elephants from Asian countries gathered in Kuala Syiah end of March. Wild elephants attack in Aceh increased berkelindan with widespread forest encroachment. Man with elephant conflict is inevitable. Elephants are hunted and despised. As a result, declining elephant population in Aceh. In 2011, according to Resource Conservation Agency Aceh, only the remaining 540 birds. In fact, the Sultanate of Aceh in the days of the 17th century, elephant jungle meets and becomes a symbol of greatness.


Before the Sultanate of Aceh was standing, the kingdoms of the north island of Sumatra has made the elephant as an integral part of the kingdom. According to M. Jonah Djamil, a king in Pidie chose the elephant as tunganggannya. "In the year 500 AD was found to kingdom named Poli, namely Pidie now, people are Buddhists, the king riding an elephant," wrote White Gadjah Djamil in Iskandar Muda.

Perlak Sultan in 1146 is also fond of riding elephants decorated with gold, as quoted from the Book Rihlah Djamil Abu Ishak al-Makarany. While Marco Polo called the kingdom of Samudra Pasai as having a lot of elephants, and most belonged to the king.

Ibn Battuta in Rihlah, Ibn Battuta gives a more complete description of the elephant Samudra Pasai in 1345. In addition to the King owned, the elephants are also part of war royal fleet. The number is 300 elephants. Although for the war, the elephants still decorated. According to him, the strength and splendor of elephant Samudra Pasai fleet can only be rivaled by the Kingdom of Delhi (India).

When the Acehnese Sultanate was established in the first half of the 16th century, the elephant remains a mainstay of animals, except horses. Sultans of Aceh that time famous as a skilled rider on an elephant. Elephant riding skills are considered a symbol of majesty the sultan. The elephants were well cared for.

Wild elephants are hunted in the interior not to take the tusks, but to be tamed. Once tame, the elephant is considered the best and will be the largest elephant sultan. Rest for a fleet of war in Aceh. War elephants were decorated as beautiful as possible with gold and jewels. A view that can be found in India.

Pride of the Sultanate of Aceh to the elephant continued into the 17th century. Iskandar Muda, sultan of candidates, familiar with elephants since childhood. Indra Jaya, a baby elephant, a little playmate Iskandar Muda. His grandfather, Sultan Shah Alau'ddin Riayat, giving the elephant when Alexander was 5 years old. Iskandar love it.

He spent most of his playing time with the baby elephant. The age of 7 years, he began hunting wild elephants in the forest. When growing up, Iskandar Muda has been adept at riding the elephant. Citing Tale Aceh, Anthony Reid in "Elephants and Water in The Feasting of Seventeenth Century Aceh," published in An Indonesian Frontier, said the young sultan's elephant training every Monday and Thursday. The young sultan sultan of Aceh continue the tradition of proficiency in riding elephants.

Foreign guests of the Sultanate of Aceh fascinated by the elephants there. Conversely, the elephant-elephant Aceh boasts the foreign guests. To welcome foreign visitors, the elephant is a well, good temperament, health and jewels. John Davies, English navigator, his experience visiting the palace of the sultan in 1599. "I was driving to his house with an elephant," wrote Davies in "Bad Ends First Visit Holland, 1599," published in Tempo Doeloe Sumatra.

He also mentioned the elephant can be used as a tool executions. Elephants can tear up his body shattered. Note Francois Martin, the French traders, the 1602 reinforces Davies story. Sentenced to death by elephants imposed on fornicators and murderers.

Although the elephant had become the instrument of execution, the main function of the elephant as a symbol of the greatness of the sultanate of Aceh undeniable. Augustin de Beaulieu, the French trader, saw how Aceh is a major theater of the elephants in 1621. In his notes, "The brutality of Iskandar Muda", published in Tempo Doeloe Sumatra, he said Aceh has 900 elephants. Because of the abundance of elephants fleet, Aceh did not require the city walls. "The elephants tempurnyalah which is the real citadel," wrote Denys Lombard kingdom of Aceh.

The elephants were trained to fight, so do not be afraid when the gun sounds in addition to ear-splitting sounds great. Sultan gave the elephants while the names of the people pay homage to the sultan's elephants use. When the parade, elephants accompanied by the blaring sounds of musical instruments such as trumpet, tambourine, and cymbals.

Another note about the elephants in Aceh came from Peter Mundy, British travelers. Although only visiting Aceh for 10 days, he saw a large ceremony that included a lot of elephants in 1637. He describes very clearly the ceremony that was held during the celebration of Eid al-Adha. The ceremony was attended by the audience including foreigners. Sultan invited all the people present, from commoners to royalty.

In the ceremony, 30 decorated elephants are divided into several lines. There are four elephants each row. Most of elephant covered in silk so that only visible legs, ears, eyes, and their trunks. The elephant king looks striking. Decorated with luxurious fabrics that cover almost the entire body and one meter high tower in his back, the elephant was at the back. According to Takeshi Ito in The World of The Traditional Aceh, a thesis on the Australian National University, "in peacetime, the elephant became an integral part in the procession as stated in the book of Adat Aceh."

Ito added Aceh not only collected but also export the elephants or membarternya with a horse or other animal to a few regions such as Sri Lanka. At the Sultanah Safiatuddin (1641-1675), unlimited ownership of elephants again in the sultan. The rich may have it. Along meredupnya Sultanate of Aceh, the elephant no longer occupies an important position in a religious ceremony or a fleet of war. Entering the 20th century, the unfortunate fate, only to become prey of goods and merchandise. Even an enemy of the people.

Written by Tri Hendaru Hanggoro source text and photos historia.co.id