This is the incredible moment a blind elephant danced and swayed along to music after a kindhearted man played the piano for her in the wild.
In the clip, British pianist Paul Barton explains that the ‘gentle’ old female elephant, named Lam Duan, has been blind for a number of years and that he wants to play her some music.
Mr Barton then plays a classical Bach number while the 62-year-old elephant sways her head and trunk to the music, almost in a trance-like state.
In the clip, filmed at Elephants World in Thailand, Paul Barton explains that the elephant Lam Duan has been blind for many years
He then plays a classical Bach number while the 62-year-old elephant sways her head and trunk to the music, almost in a trance-like state
Lam Duan, which means ‘Tree With Yellow Flowers’, currently lives in Elephants World in Thailand, an animal rescue facility looking after sick, old, or disabled elephants.
Mr Barton, 57, said: ‘I was heartbroken when I first saw Lam Duan arrive at Elephants World in 2012.
‘She’s so restless. When you play music to her, she stops being restless and is calm. Being blind, she’ll sway back and forth.’
Lam Duan spent the first 20 years of her life working in the logging trade, before spending a further 10 in the trekking industry.
The next 30 years were spent being looked after by a pair of owners before being moved to Elephants World.
Lam Duan spent the first 20 years of her life working in the logging trade, before spending a further 10 in the trekking industry
Now she lives at the rescue centre, where Mr Barton plays music to the animals in the hopes that their lives are a little more fulfilled through these activities
Mr Barton, originally from East Yorkshire, lives at the shelter with his wife, Khwan, and regularly plays music to the 28 elephants under their care.
Though some of the animals, such as bull elephants, can be aggressive, Mr Barton says he prefers his performances to be completely natural with no restrictions.
He added that he can usually tell within a few seconds of performing whether the elephant likes his music choice or not, and that he hopes the animals lives are a little more fulfilled through these activities.
Mr Barton uploads the videos on to his YouTube channel to raise awareness about Elephants World.
He added: ‘The piano is out in the mountains, so it’s completely free – the elephant can do what it wants.
‘These elephants are standing close to you, and there’s kind of a connection that you can’t explain in words.’
Mr Barton said: ‘These elephants are standing close to you, and there’s kind of a connection that you can’t explain in words’
