Love & Bananas

I would have preferred to give this a zero but I can't.I don't know if Ms.Bell was emotionally indoctrinated by Lek or just misinformed but her quote of "Every elephant baby goes through the phajaan or crush" is a blatant lie. The 'phajaan' actually means to separate or divorce and with domesticated elephants there is a cultural ceremony with Monks and chanting and is quite tender and emotional,Youngsters learn from their mothers and siblings The same as humans and other animals, The "crush footage was filmed, I think, in 2002 and was proven after a Police investigation to have been a set up by certain individuals and AR groups. 'In the early 2000s, Lek filmed undercover footage of what it takes to break an elephant's spirit and turn a wild Asian elephant into one docile enough to give rides and perform at shows. The process is known as pajan, aka the "crush box" and it was one of Southeast Asia's best-kept secrets.' This quote was written by Ashley Bell herself, which means that Ashley received this information directly from Lek. Since Lek filmed the footage herself, as stated in the above quote, why didn't She do anything to help the elephant calf that was being tortured? She proceeded to film the 'undercover footage'. Did she even consider calling the police to inform them that this evil torturing was going on.If someone loves elephants that is the first thing one should do Elephants are sacred in Thailand and the Police would have been there in a flash. An outright falsehood like this is in the film helps no one least of all the elephants. I particularly liked the part where she wipes her dry eyed 'crocodile tears' from her eyes with her shirt. Sorry Ms.Bell but I believe you were conned. There are plenty of scientifically based sites on the internet that people should read and then have fact based reasoning rather than an emotional one.

All of the 1-star reviews are from Circus managers and other people who exploit animals for a living. Don't believe the lies.

This doc is TRUE & DEF eye opening - a must see. Disregard 2 posted reviews claiming horrid boxing & torture / killing of infant elephant is "outdated bc illegal & local police stop it." Many animal welfare laws exist in Thailand but FEW are enforced, even on worst repeat offenders. Elephant rides is BIG BUSINESS- that means $$ trumps laws.

FACT IS WILD elephant family will DIE PROTECTING their young. Thus, it's DEF WRONG TO RIDE AN ELEPHANT - wild or born in captivity. It's UNNATURAL TO RIDE ELEPHANTS IN MODERN TIMES!

The mahouts era in timber industry is LONG GONE in all ASEAN countries. So why train BABY INFANT ELEPHANTS TO CARRY HUMANS?? MONEY- plain & simple.

Fact: No Mother elephant will allow a human NEAR her NEWBORN.

Fact: Thailand allows chaining of elephants ALL the time for tourists to feed/ take pics. Chained ride elephants sway & shift side to side when stressed caused by chaining in 1 spot for many hours/ days, out of public view. This docu shows how the "ride for tourism elephants" are regularly mistreated & all cruelly chained with no water nor food. Chained Mother elephant separated from her baby & witnessing any type training given to her newborn IS SIMPLY CRUEL!

UNDISPUTED FACT cannot train teen age or mature elephant to ride so newborns are trained This docu film shows a lush large Thailand elephant sanctuary & how long tortured enslaved ride elephants remember friends & family from decades ago. This reunion occurs in most elephant sanctuaries. This Docu focuses on female Lek whose received regular death threats, disowned & made homeless by her family bc they're in elephant riding business, & gets no aide from local police / govt that usually sides with tourists cash flow.

The sanctuary Lek works at is NOT owned by her but by a trust created by white conservationist who hired her while she was young & homeless. Lek lived at sanctuary & became an "elephant whisperer". Her love for elephants is clear.

This docu shows lucky few elephants enjoying this sanctuary. Lek displays her remarkable "whisperer" talent that's dangerous bc rescued abused elephants suffer PTS. In sanctuary, elephants are free, not forced to move by painful prodding. Lek uses BANANAS & any fruit elephant favors to gain their trust. In this sanctuary, elephants decide what to do & create new elephant bonds. It's Lots of work but the big reward is elephants return to living as wild as possible, no cages, no chains, no forced tourist rides in severe humid heat without water & shade. Lek also helps convert other family owned elephant ride businesses to switch bc @ time of filming, Thai govt gave $$ to families who switched from ride elephants biz to another business usu more profitable, as long as all elephants are given to verified sanctuary.

Science has proven so much about elephants' intelligence, lifelong family ties, mental trauma & depression when separated from family, their tender skin, how they're literally true "keynote species" & gardeners of their natural habitats, aiding all wildlife by digging wells in droughts with tusks, replanting vital fruit trees/ shrubs, & fertilizing land everywhere they travel.

Do NOT be discouraged by viewing brief brutal reality. ONE MUST WITNESS CRUEL TRUTH TO REMEDY WRONGS. I know ppl who've visited Thailand, this wonderful sanctuary, took lots of pics incl many chained elephants in different Thai places. They did NOT ride any elephant thankfully bc of my info & viewing THIS docu.

This is a sincere film that zooms in on a true ecological and environmental crisis of our time. It'll make you see elephants, and the Thai/Cambodian tourism industry, in a whole new way. I hope it brings new awareness to this issue to discourage tourists from supporting the elephant riding/entertainment centers conducting elephant abuse!

Cute, it would be better if Ashley Bell would stop trying to be the FOCUS of this documentary and allow the elephants to take center stage.