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00:04I'm back. I'm back. I feel so good. I love India. I love everything about India. I love the smells.
00:16I love the extremes. You can fall in love with India for a million reasons. I have fallen in love
00:25with the Asian elephant.
00:32A lot of the reason why you fall in love has to do with where you are and the mood
00:37you're in. I've never been anywhere. I felt so totally overwhelmed. And the first time I saw Asian elephants, I
00:45was in a great mood on vacation. Oh, no wonder they seduced me.
00:54And because they're so deeply connected to the soul of India, once you love the elephant, you have to love
01:00India, too.
01:14Hey, look out! India isn't the serene, timeless place you read about. It feels totally out of control. When I'm
01:23here, I just try to, oh, let things happen and trust investors.
01:27Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop!
01:31But it's that sense of things spinning out of control that's brought me back.
01:37When someone you love is in trouble, you want to be there, and the Asian elephant is in trouble.
01:45Compared to the African elephant, it seems to have been forgotten.
01:50The last time I came, I didn't know there was a threat. I do now.
01:55I've learned the Asian elephant is in terrible danger, and I know that if I care, I have to do
02:01something now.
02:08I've got a long way to go, from Delhi to Jaipur, then south, to try to find the wild elephants
02:14I saw last time.
02:16I don't know why the elephant is under such threat. I mean, it's not just that I love the Asian
02:23elephant.
02:23Everyone in India loves the elephant. I mean, it's so revered. It's revered in Hinduism and Buddhism.
02:32I mean, why is it so endangered?
02:40I saw my first wild Asian elephant seven years ago in southern India.
02:45I don't know exactly what it was, but when I saw them, they captured my heart.
02:50Maybe it was just because they made me feel so happy inside, and I knew so little about them then.
03:02This is India's largest protected elephant reserve, but even in this sanctuary, they're not always safe.
03:10Just a few days ago, I heard that one of the majestic bulls I saw on my last visit had
03:16been killed by poachers,
03:17murdered because someone wanted his tusks that badly.
03:22The tragedy is that almost everyone loses out.
03:29Oh, the smell in here.
03:32Ivory traders get caught all the time.
03:35The tusks are confiscated and then burnt.
03:38This place feels like a graveyard.
03:41Oh, what a waste.
03:49Of all the wild elephants I saw the last time, there's one that I've never forgotten.
03:54A mother with a baby.
03:56It was as if we had, like, a bond.
03:59I saw her over several days, and someone said, no, she must be my elephant.
04:03She was special because she was so vulnerable.
04:08There she is.
04:08There she is.
04:09There's my elephant.
04:10Look.
04:11Look at her little face.
04:13Oh, my God.
04:14This is the reason why I fell in love with the Asian elephant right here.
04:18She was blind in one eye.
04:20Had a kind of a white patch around her eye.
04:22And there's her baby.
04:24And her baby stayed with her all the time because she served as the eyes of her mother, you know.
04:29Oh, it was such a romantic, beautiful, loving story.
04:32If it hadn't been for her, I might never have come back.
04:37I'd love to see my elephant again.
04:39But there are so many ways an elephant can die in the wild, especially a blind one.
04:48Not so long ago, she could have been killed for sport, ending up in a taxidermist chamber of horrors.
05:02Two-thirds of India's elephants have been killed in the last hundred years.
05:07But it's not hunters or poachers who threaten the 18,000 or so left.
05:11The problem's bigger, much more complex, much harder to control.
05:24In India today, it's the population explosion that's destroying the Asian elephant.
05:29It's said there's a baby born here every second.
05:34This is Jaipur, the fabled pink city.
05:37It's doubled in size since I was here last.
05:42Oh, it's a wild place.
05:44Colorful, it's so alive.
05:46Where you can see, smell, and touch India's chaotic charm.
05:51Oh, I can't leave you.
05:56Hold it.
05:57The place just swallows you up.
06:00It's heaven for shopaholics like me.
06:03That's heavy, isn't it?
06:04Yeah, light come, Makaro.
06:06You want us to have some extra light?
06:08You?
06:08I have some strong.
06:10Ooh, that's sexy.
06:12Okay.
06:12Bye-bye.
06:20Oh, a motorcycle?
06:21Oh, you're good.
06:23Okay.
06:34Unhappily, however, the cracks are beginning to show in the special relationship between people
06:39and elephants.
06:40It's traditionally been very close.
06:42The first records of working elephants date back four and a half thousand years, and the
06:47elephant has long been revered as the living image of a powerful god.
06:54It's a respect that in the past has kept the elephant safe, but it's being undermined.
07:01Here at the Amber Palace, these dignified animals are being used as tourist attractions.
07:13It hurts me to see them trudging through the heat of the day without enough water.
07:17This isn't how it's supposed to be.
07:20What's happening to the Hindu reverence for life and to their ancient worship of the elephant
07:24god Ganesh?
07:32Long before organized religion, Asians worshipped a primitive elephant god.
07:36Then in the 5th century, the Hindus created Ganesh.
07:40He's still the most potent force in the spiritual life of India.
07:45I would like to buy some offerings.
07:48Ganesh is the remover of obstacles, the protector of travelers.
07:53He's a favorite with taxi drivers.
08:03He can bestow a blessing on any new relationship or journey.
08:07I have my own Ganesh in my kitchen at home.
08:10He watches over the whole family.
08:30Hopefully, Ganesh will help me find my own special elephant.
08:35Ganesh will help me find my own special elephant.
08:35This is a prediction, Fred.
08:37Understand?
08:48Find the victim.
08:55Now, I've been blessed by Ganesh, the remover of obstacles.
09:00I'm off into the wilds of southern India.
09:03Protected.
09:14See, Ganesh is with me.
09:20I'm going to meet someone who knows a lot about the problems facing the Asian elephant.
09:24Mark Shand.
09:26He's crazy about them.
09:27He even has his own elephant called Tara, whom he adores.
09:34Mark's great friend, Aditya Patankar, is waiting to meet me.
09:38I hope.
09:40He's going to be my guide for the rest of this trip.
09:43I've read a lot about him in Mark's book.
09:53Mark says Aditya is proud of India, its culture and its traditions.
09:57That's why they teamed up to work together for the elephants.
10:05It's very quiet.
10:07And I've got so many questions I want to ask.
10:16What possessed the first person to tame an elephant?
10:19To start the relationship?
10:21What possesses any of us to start relationships?
10:24In India, they're arranged.
10:26Oh, now that's a fascinating tradition.
10:29There is something in India, arranged marriages, which fascinates me.
10:35Let me put it this way.
10:37Don't you think all marriages are arranged?
10:41I think it's just the people that are different who arranged them.
10:44I know, but I mean...
10:45I think they're all arranged.
10:47You mean they're pre-arranged?
10:48They're all arranged.
10:49I don't know.
10:51Does that answer your question?
10:53It is.
10:53It's a very mystical answer.
10:55Yeah?
10:55Well, I'll take that, because I'm in India.
10:57People say to me, why do you love India so much?
11:00I mean, what is it about India?
11:01Yeah.
11:02India is magical.
11:05Magical place where anything is possible.
11:08Magical mystery to us.
11:11Are we lost?
11:13Oh, well, trust in destiny.
11:15I think that's what Aditya just said.
11:17And tomorrow, when I meet Mark's elephant.
11:20Oh, I'm going to have to trust in something.
11:23I love elephants, but they're so strong, and they really scare me.
11:29Good morning, girl.
11:31Good morning, girl.
11:34I'm going to have to make you look very smart today.
11:39You're not the only star around here, huh?
11:46You're going to get you green, or you're going to have to behave yourself.
11:48You're going to behave yourself?
11:49I wonder what's in store for me today.
12:01When Mark Shand isn't working to save elephants all over Asia,
12:05he spends as much time as he can with Tara.
12:08Her name means star in Hindi, and that's exactly what she is to him.
12:14He never meant to keep her.
12:16He only bought her to make one journey across India.
12:19But elephants make you do things you never thought you'd do.
12:24Bye, Mark.
12:27Come.
12:28Hi.
12:29This is so beautiful.
12:31What a setting.
12:33Welcome to India.
12:35Welcome, Tara.
12:37If we can get her out of the water.
12:39I met Mark at a dinner for the Asian elephant appeal.
12:43He had more clothes on then.
12:45How are you?
12:46Great.
12:47Nice to see you.
12:48Sorry, I'm very wet.
12:50Okay, everything all right?
12:51It's good.
12:51Yeah?
12:52What do you think?
12:53Oh, she's beautiful.
12:55Is it good?
12:56It's just like the pictures.
12:58What did I think she was going to look like?
13:01Oh, I must be nervous.
13:03Singal is Tara's constant companion, her moot.
13:10Oh, here comes Tara.
13:15What do you think?
13:38that's not reaching
13:44she's just checking you out
13:50she's just making friends
13:53you see they do everything by sense of smell
13:55you're very polite
13:55she does
14:01don't worry
14:02don't worry
14:04uh-oh
14:05I don't think she likes that perfume from Jaipur
14:08that is what you expected
14:10yes
14:10she's just as beautiful as I thought
14:13she's so sweet
14:16she's big
14:18then I'm going to get you to
14:20come and give her a little bath
14:21all right
14:22wash tall
14:24you must be joking
14:25Mark
14:25yeah
14:26it's all right if I say she'll be on her side
14:29she'll be thirsty people
14:30and that's how you get to know elephants
14:31it's just like the children isn't it
14:33you don't know your child
14:35do you wash them
14:43Tara seems much more relaxed than me
14:46there she is
14:54there you are
14:56gentle's a kitten
14:58incredible
14:58I never felt like you'd have to know elephant just closed
15:01and caressing
15:06well I feel a bit better now
15:09I'm going in
15:13well I have to say
15:14that you know
15:15when we see elephants
15:15or I see them in the romantic
15:17yeah
15:18aspects of the elephant
15:19is that you always want to go up
15:21and touch an elephant
15:22and kiss their trunk
15:24but I never thought
15:25I'd hit this close to one
15:28can I honestly say
15:29without fear
15:30I don't
15:32Jodie I do assure you
15:33this elephant
15:34Tara
15:34I bought
15:36must be eight
15:36ten years ago
15:37and she's a beautiful elephant
15:39I'm not too sure about her age
15:40yeah
15:41you see you can tell the age
15:42from the fold of the ear
15:44here
15:44but as you know
15:45it's impolite to ask ladies their age
15:47so I think she's been lying to me
15:49for a long time
15:49I think she's probably
15:51about 38 or 40
15:52and the older they get
15:54the ear curls over
15:56is she just quite happy
15:57lying there
15:58yeah
15:58this to her
15:59is the greatest pleasure
16:00in the world
16:02the greatest pleasure
16:03in the world
16:03I mean can you imagine
16:04just lying there
16:05and she has this huge family
16:07looking after her all the time
16:08life hasn't always
16:10been kind to Tara
16:11Mark bought her
16:12on a whim
16:12he says from the moment
16:14he saw her
16:15he knew she was
16:16the elephant for him
16:17but before he chose her
16:19to make a four month
16:20journey with Aditya
16:21to highlight the plight
16:22of the elephant
16:22she'd been badly abused
16:26he loved her
16:27took care of her
16:28and brought her
16:29back to life
16:32he says he'd always
16:33intended selling her
16:34at the end of the journey
16:35but when it came to it
16:37he just couldn't bear it
16:38so this is what
16:40we wash elephants with
16:41it varies from country
16:42to country
16:43in Sri Lanka for instance
16:44they use coconut husks
16:46they're just like
16:47plummy stones
16:47oh yeah
16:48so what you do
16:49you don't wash
16:51this part here
16:52this is her spine
16:53you can't
16:54you don't touch
16:54the spine
16:55you just wash
16:55this drink
16:56fat
16:57side
16:58okay
16:59gently or as hard
17:01as you like
17:04I always thought
17:05an elephant's skin
17:06would be so rough
17:07but it isn't
17:08her little hairs
17:09tickle my hands
17:12I feel
17:12I want to hug her
17:14but I'm not brave
17:15enough yet
17:18who can't
17:19who can't
17:21let me hear
17:23this is a great thing
17:24to do
17:24if you take
17:25yeah
17:26scrub that as hard
17:27as you like
17:27that's what you love
17:30god it's hard
17:31because it's so hard
17:32I don't know
17:33it's pretty
17:33no you won't hurt her
17:34I promise you
17:34oh I'm sure
17:35I won't
17:36as hard as you like
17:37the harder the better
17:38you're so abusive
17:43that's what I found
17:43when I first
17:44with Clara
17:45I found I could
17:46I just went in
17:47and did this
17:48yeah
17:49I was worried
17:50I was going to ask her
17:52didn't she say
17:53that she was jealous
17:54of women
17:55okay
17:58in your book
17:59I must have been lying
18:00I remember
18:01I'm also
18:05did I
18:05try to look
18:06as butch as possible
18:07you certainly
18:08don't look butch
18:09if I may say
18:10so
18:13okay
18:13no no no
18:14they're not jealous
18:14of women at all
18:16actually the walk
18:17of an elephant
18:17in Sanskrit
18:18from the old Sanskrit
18:19yeah
18:20is that Indian women
18:21were supposed to emulate
18:22the walk of an elephant
18:23it was so sexy
18:28you walk from behind
18:29the backside
18:30goes up and down
18:31up and down
18:31wonderful
18:32you can get on
18:34a dry lamp
18:35by sitting on here
18:37they are dry
18:38now you can
18:41so if she just
18:42suddenly starts
18:42to get up
18:44then what do I do
18:46well I don't
18:46really have much time
18:47oh well get me
18:49off of her
18:49oh no
18:50it's just amazing
18:51I didn't mean to say
18:52it just like that
18:52Tara
18:53she'll be listening to that
18:54I know she will
18:54no no she won't move
18:56she might move her
18:57right
18:57her arm
18:58around a bit
18:59but she won't
19:00move upwards
19:01like that
19:02uh huh
19:12there you are
19:25thank you dear
19:27that's quite alright
19:28oh god
19:29tomorrow
19:31she'll be carrying you
19:32oh wow
19:45Tara lying down
19:46I could handle
19:46but Tara standing up
19:48yikes
19:50but I do feel
19:51there's a bit of
19:51trust between us now
19:53I'm sure that's why
19:54Mark got me in that
19:55water
19:56here's what I want
19:57to know
19:58elephants have an
19:59emotional life
20:00yeah very much so
20:01well I'm sure Tara
20:02sort of cried
20:04when I left
20:04I mean there was a
20:05large tear that
20:07dripped down her
20:07cheek
20:08there wasn't
20:08was there really
20:09there was
20:09I'm sure she did
20:10I like to think
20:10she did anyway
20:12maybe she wasn't
20:12maybe she was relieved
20:13to give her a good idea
20:14but um
20:14for instance
20:16down in the south
20:16children are left
20:17with elephants
20:18when the mothers
20:19go off to do the
20:19shopping and things
20:20like that
20:20they leave the
20:21elephants there
20:22and the children
20:22sit between the
20:23front feet
20:23and they look
20:24after them
20:24oh
20:25and there was
20:26another case
20:26the other day
20:27about a year ago
20:28in uh
20:29northwest bengal
20:30a calf was
20:31knocked down
20:31by a train
20:33and
20:34the very next day
20:35the mother
20:36waited for the
20:36train to pass
20:37and as the
20:38train was passing
20:39knocked the
20:39train over
20:43derailed the
20:44whole train
20:44oh my god
20:49you know the
20:50African elephant
20:50seems to be
20:51in a different
20:52situation at the
20:53moment
20:53the reason I
20:54came and I
20:55wanted to do
20:56this is because
20:56the Asian elephant
20:57uh doesn't get
20:59the kind of
20:59publicity that
21:00that and
21:00and there's so
21:01many things that
21:02need to be done
21:02in order to
21:03save this
21:04creature
21:05the problem is
21:06that you know
21:06India grows by
21:0720 million people
21:08a year
21:0820 million people
21:10yeah which is a
21:11lot um
21:12and it's loss of
21:13habitat
21:13forests being cut
21:15down and it's
21:15just endless
21:16and elephants are
21:17long-ranging animals
21:18and they need
21:19long spaces to
21:20walk through
21:21and they eat
21:21different foods
21:22in different places
21:22they're migratory
21:24animals
21:24it's very difficult
21:25to change their
21:26ways
21:26so what you're
21:27getting now
21:28is is is is a
21:29conflict between
21:30humans and
21:31elephants and
21:32you've got to be
21:32pragmatic about it
21:33I mean you can't
21:34actually get too
21:35emotional like it
21:35because you know
21:36a lot of elephants
21:37aren't going to
21:37survive
21:38if you can't
21:39control you know
21:40population control
21:41it's it's you know
21:42it's you're facing
21:43the elephant is facing
21:44a grim future
21:44so if I gave you a
21:46dollar where would
21:46you put it
21:47I'd probably get
21:48and buy myself a
21:48packet of cigarettes
21:54very naughty
21:56there were once
22:06millions of Asian
22:06elephants roaming
22:07from Syria to China
22:08now they're reduced
22:10to tiny herds
22:11in fragments of
22:12forest
22:12when they try to
22:14reclaim their
22:15territory they
22:15sometimes attack
22:16innocent villagers
22:17who have no choice
22:18over where they
22:19live
22:19people need the
22:21land too
22:26this is a bamboo
22:28coracle a round
22:29boat later it'll be
22:31covered with buffalo
22:32skin
22:32this is like what
22:34you do when you
22:35basket week right
22:36I paddled one of
22:38these on my last
22:39trip
22:44this is what crazy
22:45people do in America
22:47if there is an
22:48answer it's got to
22:49be somehow to save
22:50the forests for
22:51elephants and the
22:52people
22:53you know I've
22:53collected elephants
22:54all my life
22:55I have them all
22:56over my house
22:57I've always loved
22:58them and to tell
22:59you the truth it's
23:00like anything I
23:01mean I could say
23:01I have a healthy
23:02respect for them but
23:03actually I'm afraid
23:04why are you afraid
23:05because they're big
23:06and they're strong
23:07and I'd heard so
23:08many stories about
23:10what they've done
23:11I mean how they
23:12go into the
23:13villages how they
23:14can just you
23:16know kill
23:16there are stories
23:18for instance when
23:19we were up in the
23:20northwest Bengal
23:21there was a
23:22situation up there
23:23where a Tusker
23:24had come into on
23:25one of his
23:26migratory routes
23:26and started to
23:28push the house
23:29there was a family
23:31inside a young
23:32wife and a
23:33husband and a
23:34baby and the
23:36wife ran out
23:37with a baby in
23:38her arms that
23:39the elephant put
23:40the baby aside
23:41and then grabbed
23:42the woman and
23:44then took her off
23:45into this field
23:45and then and
23:47then killed her
23:48but you don't
23:49it the amazing
23:50thing is about it
23:51is they don't
23:52just kill them
23:53they really bent
23:55their anger on
23:56them they you
23:56know their land
23:57has been taken
23:58away and you
23:58can see it
23:59indelibly marked
24:01on the person
24:01because there's
24:02nothing left of
24:03the person
24:03this seems to be
24:04a totally new
24:05no it's a new
24:07phenomena completely
24:08the elephant is a
24:10peaceful herbivore
24:12doesn't want to
24:13harm you
24:13no
24:13its only enemy
24:14is man
24:15doesn't want to
24:16harm you like
24:17any wild animal
24:17but it's a
24:18formidable animal
24:19it's a large
24:20animal it's an
24:21intelligent animal
24:21and we've got to
24:22you know do
24:23something to save
24:23them and you
24:25can't save them
24:25all I mean
24:26there's no way
24:26that you can
24:27begin to save
24:27all the elephants
24:28but you can
24:29ensure that maybe
24:30you know five or
24:31six genetic
24:31viable populations
24:33remain for all of us
24:34and for our
24:35grandchildren and
24:36people to see for
24:37the future
24:37you know
24:38there's no escaping
24:39the conflict
24:41just in India
24:42elephants are
24:42killing 400
24:43people a year
24:48the farmers don't
24:49want to harm the
24:50elephants
24:50they are still
24:51gods on earth
24:52after all
24:53but they've got
24:54to save their
24:55crops to feed
24:56their families
25:17yesterday Mark
25:18got me to
25:18wash Tara
25:20today he thinks
25:22he's going to
25:22teach me to
25:22ride her
25:25in your dreams
25:28what we should
25:29have at the
25:30ladder
25:30I wonder where
25:31the ladder is
25:31then we can
25:32put you up
25:32properly like
25:33a sort of
25:33Maharaja
25:34and then you
25:35can go up
25:36on the ladder
25:36yeah
25:37well I can
25:38go up on
25:38the trunk
25:39on the trunk
25:40or the tail
25:41I mean the
25:41tail
25:42I don't know
25:42my ass
25:43for my tail
25:44I mean my
25:46trunk
25:47you know it
25:47can get confusing
25:48between the
25:49trunk
25:55there you
25:56are
25:57straight on
25:58up
25:59there
26:00how's that
26:03it's uh
26:03good
26:05right
26:05it's good
26:06it's kind
26:06of amazing
26:07sorry
26:08yeah
26:08are you
26:09comfortable
26:09right up
26:10right
26:10right
26:11right
26:12now she's
26:13going to
26:13come back
26:13okay
26:13so hang
26:14on
26:17there
26:18how's that
26:19good
26:20that you
26:21all right
26:21yeah
26:21that
26:22that
26:28well it
26:29is
26:34because that's
26:35the kind
26:35of girl
26:36I am
26:37obliging
26:41but wait
26:42a minute
26:43what happens
26:44if Tara
26:44says no
26:45she doesn't
26:47really need
26:47to listen
26:48to us
26:49she's much
26:49more powerful
26:50than that
26:53what's in
26:54it for her
26:55apart from
26:56her daily
26:56bath of
26:57course
26:58that was
26:59fun
27:05elephants are
27:06quite lazy
27:06and you just
27:07got to keep
27:07moving your
27:08toes into
27:09these little
27:09ears here
27:10just to keep
27:10them moving
27:11okay
27:12now she
27:13stop an
27:13elephant by
27:14drawing your
27:14feet back
27:16like that
27:17pulling back
27:17behind their
27:18ears
27:18pulling back
27:19now pulling
27:19back with
27:20your heels
27:21like that
27:22okay so
27:23go ahead
27:26that's forward
27:28okay
27:29you keep
27:30working your
27:30table in there
27:31and then one
27:32of the most
27:33important commands
27:33obviously is
27:34stop
27:35dirt
27:37dirt
27:38now that's
27:39the command
27:39I always
27:40forgot
27:42that's a
27:43very important
27:44command to
27:45know
27:45okay
27:45she
27:46she
27:47she
27:48she
27:49she
27:49she is
27:50fine
27:52okay
27:52okay
27:53all right
27:54so
27:55yeah
27:56what we're
27:57going to do
27:57is now
27:57you're going
27:58to get
27:58into the
27:58driver's
27:59seat
27:59all right
28:00no wait
28:01a minute
28:02do you want
28:02me to sit
28:03where you
28:03are
28:03yeah
28:04oh
28:04no
28:05you'll
28:05be
28:05all right
28:05don't
28:06worry
28:06what we
28:06pass up
28:07is take
28:07your socks
28:08off
28:12oh god
28:14I'm a little
28:14nervous
28:15you'll be
28:15all right
28:16you'll be
28:16all right
28:16I can't
28:18get it
28:18over the
28:19hump
28:21come on
28:22Mark
28:22god
28:22it's
28:22difficult
28:22to get a
28:23tired
28:23socks
28:25move forward
28:28okay
28:29move forward
28:31sit in the
28:31middle
28:34push your
28:35toes
28:36there
28:36and say
28:37mal
28:38mal
28:39mal
28:39later
28:40mal
28:41mal
28:42there
28:44keep going
28:45keep pushing
28:46mal
28:46mal
28:50mal
28:50mal
28:51there you are
28:52you're doing
28:53great
28:56that's a great
28:57art
28:57I think this is the
28:58first time I've
28:59stuck my toes
29:00behind someone's
29:01ears
29:01keep going
29:02well ears
29:03this big
29:04anyway
29:04you're going
29:05straight to the
29:06tree building
29:09watch out
29:10yeah
29:15there we are
29:16mal
29:17mal
29:18mal
29:18mal
29:18mal
29:19there we are
29:20there we are
29:20you've avoided
29:20the tree
29:21beautifully
29:22mal
29:24mal
29:25got 20 miles
29:38i'll probably be ready
29:40for my test in
29:41oh
29:4110 years
29:43well have you ever
29:45driven a four ton
29:46truck
29:48shut up
29:49man
29:52chi chi chi chi chi chi chi chi chi chi chi chi chi chi chi
29:54right
29:54get it to the top
29:55that's the word
29:56duck
29:57duck
29:57duck
29:58duck
29:59this is the trickiest bit
30:01fight
30:01fight
30:02means down
30:03fight
30:04get down on your knees
30:05fight
30:05And elephants don't like to get down.
30:08It's not a natural position for them.
30:10No wonder I'm having trouble.
30:13Fight!
30:14Well, let's see if you break.
30:19They can keep trying.
30:22Oh, God.
30:23This is a true test of my power.
30:25Fight!
30:26My dogs don't mind me.
30:27Why was this elephant mine?
30:28She don't.
30:29She loves you.
30:30She hates sitting down.
30:31This is one thing.
30:32It's a great test for a marhoose.
30:33Get an elephant down.
30:34I hate going down.
30:36Bye, child!
30:37Mahouts also say an elephant won't go down
30:39until it knows all the world is at peace.
30:42And the elephant is the sole judge of when that is.
30:47Whoa, what an effort!
30:51There we are.
30:53Bravo.
30:53Well done.
30:54Oh, thank you.
30:55What a treat.
30:56Shabash.
30:57Mal?
30:58Shabash.
30:58Mal?
31:01There you go.
31:23Oh, what a great day.
31:25What a fabulous elephant.
31:28So what if I almost hit a tree?
31:31I wrote her, didn't I?
31:36I now know what this extraordinary relationship between people and elephants feels like.
31:44I think I also understand why elephants live and work with people.
31:49It's a mutual love and respect.
31:56Part of me wants to stay here, but I know I've got to try and find my own special elephant
32:01again in the wild.
32:09At last, I'm in the wilds of southern India, on the trail of the blind female elephant I saw seven
32:15years ago.
32:18I'm going to be heading up the Kabini River with the Ditya, into some of the best elephant wilderness in
32:24Asia.
32:24It's an area of 600 square miles created by three adjoining national parks in three Indian states.
32:36It's the height of the dry season, and yet there's still plenty of water here because the river's been dammed.
32:43Oh, it's a magical place, made even more surreal by the dead trees that were swamped when the river was
32:49flooded.
32:55Everything comes to the water at this time of year, although the Comorants look as if they've made themselves at
33:01home.
33:13Ditya tells me this is a fishing eagle.
33:17He doesn't need to tell me what this is.
33:20It's a handbag with a vicious set of teeth.
33:24I don't think I'll be taking a dip in here.
33:34Aditya says we'll leave these guys behind soon, but how can you be sure?
33:48Wow, our first Ellie. Look at this guy.
33:55Aditya reckons he's about 30.
33:57Ellie's can live to 80 in the wild.
34:00Males mature at about 10, and that's when they leave the herd to spend most of their time on their
34:05own.
34:14There's a herd up ahead.
34:15It's big.
34:17Several mothers and their children must be gathered together in this one.
34:21The oldest female takes charge of the group.
34:24Huh.
34:25Just like all families.
34:36I really want to get closer, but we're not in a very good position.
34:40We're upwind of them.
34:41They'll hear the boat pretty soon.
34:43We'll just have to move on to try to find another herd that's not as close to the river.
35:07Ah, this is better.
35:09They're further away.
35:11We've got a chance here.
35:12They look as if they're eating mud, and Aditya says that that's exactly what they're doing.
35:17They're taking in vital minerals as well as cooling off.
35:20Not a bad idea.
35:28They can suck up 10 gallons at a time.
35:35I wouldn't mind playing in that mud.
35:40I want to get a better look so we're going to sneak along the bank.
35:44We've got to keep quiet and downwind of them so they don't smell or hear us.
35:54These are victims of Elie's.
35:58Look at this.
36:02What size did you say, Mother?
36:14There's nothing quite like being so close to 30 million years of evolution.
36:19Several hundred tons of prehistoric beasts.
36:23They seem to have mammoth appetites.
36:27How much food do they taste?
36:31Around 200 kilos.
36:35Is that a lot?
36:39Yeah, they need at least 200 kilos.
36:42A lot of it is wasted, you know.
36:44I mean, their digestion system is not great.
36:48So that's why elephants can cause a lot of ecological damage by the feeding.
36:55I see.
36:56That's why elephants, without enough room, destroy the place.
37:00But it might help if they didn't keep throwing their food around.
37:04And this is just perfect terrain, you see.
37:07There's bamboo.
37:08Yeah.
37:08Used to feed on all day.
37:09Yeah.
37:10River.
37:10Right.
37:11They bathe.
37:12This next door.
37:13Right.
37:14Bathe.
37:15Go back.
37:16Feed.
37:16Bathe.
37:17Go back.
37:17Feed.
37:22Go back.
37:22They've got everything they need in this reserve.
37:24It's a great life for them when they can get it.
37:34They throw stuff on their backs to try to stop insects biting them.
37:38And to stop them from getting sunburned.
37:40It's a lot cheaper than my sunscreen, that's for sure.
37:46Let's get closer.
37:48Let's get closer.
38:05Oh, no.
38:07I think one of them smoked us.
38:12Where are they leaving?
38:14We've come too close.
38:15That's where they're leaving.
38:16Is that that word when they made that?
38:18Yeah.
38:19Yeah.
38:20That's a distressed call.
38:21She's the matriarch.
38:23They're distressed.
38:25And she says, she's told her, let's move.
38:27Boy, they listen, don't they?
38:29Yeah, because we've come too close.
38:34Too bad.
38:35But hopefully there'll be more further on.
38:37It's much shallower here.
38:39And no sign of cracks.
38:42You never can tell.
38:45The audience looks pretty relaxed, though.
39:01We're moving on to an area called Mastaguri, because Iditi has been told there is a blind female in one
39:07of the herds, which sometimes feeds there.
39:10Oh, I hope, I hope, I hope.
39:16We're almost in the middle of the three national parks right here.
39:20By working together, they've created a very special area for elephants and many other rare species.
39:33A spotted deer has escaped from some wild dogs.
39:37Another one's not been so lucky.
39:44Wild dogs are extremely rare, but they do just fine here because the forests have been protected for the elephants.
39:51If the will to save the elephants disappears, then everything, everything else could go with it.
40:16Elephants can really move if they want to.
40:19Apparently they don't like dogs of any sort.
40:21They get under their feet and it unnerves them.
40:27I wonder if he knows that he is the protector of all the animals in the forest.
40:36The water's too shallow for the motorboat now, so it's into the coracle.
40:41It's slower but less noisy.
40:44Although I think between Iditi and I, we make more noise than the engine.
40:49It's the way the coracle keeps going round and round that tickles us.
40:56It's a metaphor for life.
40:58Yes.
40:59Life is a coracle, really.
41:01Life is just a coracle, right?
41:09It's odd who destiny throws you together with.
41:12I never thought I'd meet anyone who laughs as much as me.
41:24Before the river was flooded, this was the site of a Ganesh temple.
41:28The sacred stone is still here.
41:31It can only be seen in the dry season.
41:36This is a good owner.
41:38I think I'm going to find my elephant.
41:40I think so.
41:54The tusks on these bulls are magnificent.
41:57Each one weighs about 100 pounds.
41:59Only male Asian elephants have tusks.
42:01Unlike the African elephant, where both sexes have them.
42:17The trunks are pretty similar in both elephants.
42:20They're a huge extension of the nose and top lip.
42:23They make good siphons and great loudspeakers.
42:50This is such a great day.
42:52I've a really good feeling that this could be my elephant's herd.
42:55I know we're in roughly the right area.
42:58She could be so close.
43:07Aditya says he's sure this is my blind elephant's herd.
43:12Now I'm really excited.
43:15I can't see her in the main herd.
43:17Oh, please, Ganesh, don't let me down now.
43:20Oh, God.
43:27I think that's her.
43:29I think it's my elephant on the left.
43:35Yes, it is.
43:37There's the blind white eye.
43:39It's my elephant.
43:41I can't believe it.
43:43She's still alive.
43:45And look.
43:47She's got another tiny baby.
43:53I wonder if the other elephant is the baby I saw last time.
43:58Boy, she's grown up.
44:00They're both caring for the new baby.
44:02Oh, it's so wonderful how they look after each other.
44:07I can't believe I came all this way.
44:09I never thought I'd see her.
44:12And now she has a baby.
44:13Another one.
44:15Oh, she's safe.
44:18I don't know why elephants make me cry.
44:24He's so tiny.
44:28You can hardly see her.
44:30Just a few days older.
44:32She was born while I was here?
44:35Yeah.
44:36Maybe that.
44:37A lot more than a baby, didn't you?
44:43You know, I think that elephant is the grown-up baby I saw seven years ago.
44:48She's being so loving to the little one.
44:51It must be her.
44:54Now, I have to believe in destiny.
44:57What else could have brought me here today to see my elephant?
45:00Her seven-year-old and her tiny new baby.
45:11It's bath time.
45:13After bathing Tara, I know how much fun this is.
45:23Trunks make good snorkels.
45:32Baby elephants are naturally great swimmers.
45:35It's just as well.
45:38It's wonderful how the herd huddles together to keep the little ones safe.
45:42The adults also swish their trunks from side to side to scare away the crops.
46:02When you're this size, even though you're an elephant, you could fall prey to a crock or a tiger.
46:08But even I'd feel safe in there.
46:12Look how they make a circle around you.
46:17I think that somewhere in there, there's a lesson about family, don't you?
46:24Somewhere in there, in that circle, there's a lesson about family.
46:30How family take care of each other.
46:33It's a good feeling.
46:36I know when I was between my mommy's legs, I felt very sick.
46:44I didn't have a nose that night.
46:48Nor did my nose have a hundred thousand muscles in it.
46:52And when you're an elephant this young, all those muscles aren't developed yet.
46:56In a few months, he'll learn his trunk is his most important asset.
47:00Right now, he doesn't seem to know what it is.
47:22It'll be a while yet before this tiny baby will be able to join in the fun with the other
47:27young ones in the family.
47:29They seem to have such a carefree childhood here.
47:39The games they play get more serious as they grow older.
47:43But before they know it, they're talking about a couple of tons of fun.
47:48They must quickly learn to pick on someone their own size to play with.
48:02An elephant's trunk is so versatile.
48:05It can just as easily uproot a tree as pick up a peanut.
48:08It's one of the most highly developed organs of any animal.
48:21It's a happy day.
48:23It's a really happy day.
48:30You know, I think it was Ganesh that made this happen.
48:35He removed all the obstacles, remember?
48:38Yeah, you see.
48:39You see.
48:40You made a vicious way.
48:42I can't believe it is close.
48:43It's amazing to come back here after seven years to find life going on as before.
48:49It would be great to think it'll be the same in another seven years.
48:54And maybe it will.
48:55I don't know if Ganesh has anything to do with it.
48:58So long as the elephant remains sacred, there's hope.
49:07I think Aditya knows why this place is so important to me.
49:11And why I had to find my elephant again.
49:22I'm so glad I came back.
49:29When I first came to Cabiney seven years ago, I fell in love with this elephant.
49:35And I wasn't sure why I fell in love with this elephant.
49:39She was blind.
49:40She had a baby.
49:43And I went home.
49:46And I couldn't stop thinking about her.
49:48Maybe it's because it was a kind of romantic story about a little child
49:54who was the eyes of the mother.
49:59And now that I've come back,
50:01I've learned so much more about...
50:05about the life of the elephant.
50:07I know now why I love elephants.
50:12They're a very special, intelligent animal.
50:16With a great soul, I think.
50:20And they take care of their families.
50:22Which is so important.
50:24Important to me.
50:26Watching them.
50:28Watching them interrelate.
50:30And how they take care of their children.
50:32And how the aunts take care of the other children.
50:36I watch when the babies go away and the mother takes the trunk.
50:40It says, come on, let's go.
50:42Now, it's what I do.
50:46I do that with my kids.
50:50And when an animal is dying,
50:54I guess some of us think that an animal just dies.
50:58But in the world of the elephant and the family,
51:04they hold up their sick
51:09until they can't anymore.
51:15I did that with my mother.
51:18I held her up until...
51:23she couldn't stand anymore.
51:26It's a lesson.
51:29And now,
51:31there's a baby.
51:37To save this baby,
51:39I know now we have to be realistic.
51:41We can't save all the Asian elephants.
51:43There's not enough room.
51:45But we can reduce the problems.
51:47People like Mark
51:48are working on a detailed international plan
51:51to save the key herds in Asia.
51:53Like this one.
51:54So long as they get the support they need
51:56to protect those elephants' homes,
51:58the Asian elephant will survive.
52:07I've come much further
52:09than I ever dreamed I would on this trip.
52:11What I think started for me
52:13as an idealistic romance
52:14has turned into a genuine passion.
52:17And I owe this journey
52:18to a very generous teacher.
52:20I can't go home
52:21without saying thank you.
52:23Tara, she's gorgeous.
52:25Isn't she?
52:26She's decorated up for you.
52:28Especially for your arrival.
52:29Oh, sweetie.
52:30Remember how scared I was
52:31in the beginning?
52:32I know.
52:32Look how not scared I am now.
52:34You're not at all scared, Tara.
52:41Tara is very special.
52:43In her own subtle way,
52:44she first inspired Mark
52:45and now me
52:46to fight for the Asian elephant.
52:48I hope Tara can go on
52:50teaching us all
52:51how important it is
52:51to save the elephant.
52:52because without them,
52:54not only will the forest
52:56and its animals die,
52:57but something of India's soul
52:59will be lost, too.
53:04Good girl.
53:06God, I never gave anybody
53:08a drink that way.
53:18Okay.
53:25Morning, everybody.
53:26Bye.