The story of the Elephant Man is based on real events and a real person, but it might have some dramatization and artistic liberties taken for storytelling purposes.
The 'elephant man' story is about a man named Joseph Merrick. He had a very severe deformity which made his appearance resemble that of an elephant in some ways. He was exhibited as a freak show attraction in his early life. But later, he was taken in by the hospital, where he was cared for and studied. His story shows the inhumane treatment he faced at first due to his appearance and then his experience of finally getting some compassion and proper care.
Let's say the man is a forest ranger. He is familiar with the forest and the animals in it. One day, he witnesses a young elephant being separated from its herd and a tiger approaching it. He quickly takes action to protect the elephant. He might use his knowledge of the forest to create a diversion for the tiger, like setting off a small explosion in a nearby area that scares the tiger away without harming it. This experience then becomes a story that he can share with others to raise awareness about protecting the forest and its inhabitants.
Perhaps the man is a scientist studying the behavior of animals in the forest. He observes the interactions between the tiger and the elephant and records it as a story. The tiger might be hunting for food while the elephant is trying to protect its young.
Once there was a man who thought he could teach an elephant to dance. He played all kinds of music and tried to make the elephant move gracefully. But the elephant just swayed its big body randomly, knocking over things in the process. The man was so frustrated but also couldn't help laughing at the chaos.