Urban Elephant

They have a history of captivity that stretches over 200 years. They participate with humans in a surprising array of professions, including tourism, construction, and performance. Their gigantic footsteps could disappear from the face of the earth. The enigmatic subjects of NATURE: THE URBAN ELEPHANT, Asian elephants are losing territory to the inevitable process of deforestation. Industrialization all over Asia has hurt the mahouts, or elephant drivers, so that the trained elephants and their riders are being driven into major cities such as Bangkok to earn a meager living receiving donations and food from curious tourists. Elephants forced into a captive life suffer emotionally, physically, and as a species. In "Safe Haven" one woman explains why she created a santuary for retired performing elephants after giving up her own circus career.