Domesticated for thousands of years, elephants first were used as workers in logging, agriculture, and military activities. Ancient religions in India, Sri Lanka, South China, and Java have worshipped gods with elephant heads. According to legend, the future Buddha entered his mother's lap in the form of a white elephant. They add dignity and stature to ceremonies and religious processions and are often revered by local peoples. Elephants also entertain through their interactions with human performers and play an increasingly important role as photographic subjects for ecotourism.
Humans are the major cause of death among both African and Asian elephants.
Man's need for wood products, human settlement, livestock grazing, and agriculture all encroach upon elephant habitats and contribute to their mortality. Elephants' majestic size and valuable ivory tusks have also made them a target for hunters and poachers. The Asian elephant was placed on the endangered species list in 1976 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.