Elephantsstandintheshadeunderthetrees.Atruckpullsup.Ateamofmahouts,elephantcaretakers,begintounloadthetruck.Insideisapileofspikyvines.WeareataconservationcenterinThailand.Thesevineswillbeusedtomakeamedicineforthe elephants.
TheseelephantsliveattheThaiElephantConservation Center.
Elephantsusetheirtrunkstoliftgrassestotheir mouths.
Iamheretostudyhowelephantsaretakencareof.Iamanethnobotanist.That’sapersonwhostudiesthewayspeopleuse plants.
Thesearepiecesofthespikyvineseatenby elephants.
Iworkinthefieldwithaguideandamaster healer.
WorkingWithElephants
IwilllearnfromagroupofpeoplecalledtheKaren.TheKarenhavelivedandworkedwithelephantsforhundredsofyears.Elephantshelpedpeopletravellongdistances.Theyhelpedmoveheavyobjectslikelogs.Today,manyelephantsliveincamps.Touristscomeandvisit them.
OneofthefirstthingsInoticeatthecenteristhatelephantsliketoeatsweetfoods.Theyeatsweetcornandsugarcane.Theydon’tlikebitterfoods.Whenthespikyvinesarrive,theelephantswanttoeatthem.Thevinesarebitter.Yet,theelephantsdon'tseemtomind.Dotheyknowitis medicine?Dotheyeatittostayhealthy?Iwanttofind out.
Twoelephantsworktogethertomove logs.
