This review is based on a viewing of "Le travail des éléphants" on the Eye Institute YouTube site. It is listed as an Eclair movie from the same year as the Vitagraph movie. Given that the trivia section says this was issued as a split-reel in the US, I conclude they are the same movie. the reissuing of European shorts from major producers (such as Eclair) in such a form was a common event.
this was a common event in the film world. While Pathe and Star Films (Melies) maintained offices in the United States, several British companies relied on American Mutoscope & Biograph to release their films to the large American audience. While the American companies established their own exchanges overseas , in a period when films were a runaway growth industry, this practice helped control costs and increase revenues.
Anyway, show me elephants, and I'm always happy.