00:00The Elephant Island wouldn't be named such without a reason, would it?
00:16Of course, Kuchang is one of the best homes of these gigantic animals.
00:22Symbol of the Thai monarchy, the elephant is considered sacred and greatly revered in traditional Thai culture,
00:28just like the cow is in India.
00:31The elephant is also viewed as a protector and provider of good fortune.
00:37More than 2,000 species inhabit Thailand and its many islands.
00:41Thai authorities are doing their best to preserve the population with their numbers dwindling each year.
00:47They have done so by giving their inhabitants national park status,
00:52or opening farms like this one, where elephants are taken care of.
00:56Their life at the farm could not be described as carefree either.
01:02In exchange for nourishment and care, elephants have to literally earn their living by carrying tourists on their backs.
01:09Moreover, why should the farmers object to a generous benefits package they receive each month?
01:15By the way, an elephant ride is the most popular attraction in Kuchang.
01:19For to spend two hours with an elephant, you have to pay 1,300 baht, it's around $35.
01:25It hurts, no?
01:32No, not a good time.
01:37Whoa.
01:39Back to the backhand.
01:41Not native to the islands, elephants were brought to Thailand to be used as a means of transport and a workforce.
01:47And now, elephants are part and parcel of the tourist industry.
01:52Think of them as exotic chauffeurs.
01:55Sugar cane.
01:57Come on.
01:58Come on.
01:58Un, un, un.
02:02He's tired.
02:04After 30 minutes walk, we can feed our big elephants.
02:07Un.
02:09Un, un.
02:10Un.
02:11Un.
02:11Un.
02:11An elephant eats up to 200 kilograms of food each day, which is about 8% of its weight.
02:31Therefore, it's almost impossible to overnourish them.
02:35Swaying from side to side atop this divine animal, patting its warm, wrinkled skin, beating it bananas, at first, it all seems to be very captivating.
02:45Wait, wait, wait, wait.
02:47Easy, easy, easy.
02:48Easy, easy.
02:49Don't eat me.
02:53Okay, one second, one second.
02:55However, once you begin to imagine yourself being in the place of the poor animal, your joy kind of subsides.
03:03From dawn to dusk, all these animals trod the same old route with tourists perched firmly on their backs.
03:09A humiliating job for such a majestic animal, don't you think?
03:13They proposed me some souvenirs from elephant bones, some bracelets and necklaces.
03:21I'm not sure if I want to have on my body something from elephants.
03:29To be honest, I feel very strange here.
03:32I feel very sorry to be on the top of the elephants.
03:36I would never do it again.
03:37There is much more for tourists to enjoy than just an elephant ride.
03:56Now it's time for an elephant show.
04:04They are dancing to impress the audience.
04:07And look, even standing on their heads.
04:37I can't watch this anymore.
04:42The next act is not for the faint-hearted, elephantine massage.
04:47It looks very dangerous to perform, too.
04:50With a leg like that, an elephant could easily crush any human being to death in seconds.
04:55Nevertheless, these animals are tamed and trained, and they simply pat the humans' backs.
05:02At times like these, it would be easier to think of these animals as tender and very intelligent.
05:09Elephants are usually trained from early childhood.
05:18They will continue to amuse tourists in the ways we have just witnessed until their retirement.
05:24Yes, you heard it right.
05:27As required by the country's constitution, every elephant, upon reaching the age of 60, is entitled to a pension.
05:34This money is needed to feed and sustain the retired elephants.
05:38This right is theirs the day they reach the retirement age.
05:46All in all, elephants work tirelessly all their lives.
05:50And, unlike humans, they don't get to choose their careers.
05:54So, here comes the most pleasant number of the show, bathing.
06:13This leg is bigger than me.
06:16There's no better place for elephants to chill out and bathe than the ocean.
06:20They simply love frolicking in the water, don't they?
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