Poaching is just one threat elephants face in the wild, along with habitat destruction, conflicts with locals and live trafficking in the tourism industry. Research from TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network and one of our conservation partners, estimates that around 30,000 African Elephants are poached for their tusks every year.

Many cultures believe these giant land animals are a positive symbol of luck and wealth, but the glowing reputation has endangered their life, with some people using ivory items or jewellery as a way to embrace these attributes for themselves. Tusks, a feature these majestic giants often use for defence and protection, has tragically led to the deaths of countless elephants through the illegal ivory trade. Here are four wildlife superstitions we think are even scarier than those horror movies revolving around the “unluckiest” day of the year.