Bindi the Jungle Girl - Elephants at Work (2007)
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00:00Wild elephants. Unpredictable and dangerous.
00:07How's that? Full tube charge. Big dust blow and he's out of here.
00:21Crikey, what a cranky boy. What a difference when you see elephants that work closely with people.
00:28In this episode we're looking at the workhorses of Asia. Elephants, I love them.
00:58Come in. That's Blacky, the black-headed python.
01:08This is a very rare snake because of habitat loss, just like the poor old elephants of Asia.
01:16We're going to Sri Lanka and Thailand, two big elephant homelands in Asia.
01:24In the countryside and towns of Sri Lanka, we'll see how elephants and people are living in the past.
01:30My dad's best friend Wes learns how elephants are an important part of the culture in Thailand.
01:37He gets tossed around by their amazing strength and enjoys their fun-loving, playful side.
01:46My dad goes inside an incredible orphanage for elephants in Sri Lanka.
01:54Wes learns about elephant handling from the professionals and they play a very funny trick on him.
02:05And in the busy streets of Sri Lanka, we see how elephants hold a very special place in local culture.
02:12Oh look, he's showing us his tusks. And he's got back legs, look at that.
02:18You can see his back legs there, he can swing them around, do a side kick, do the Bruce Lee kick.
02:23Look at his haircut, you've got a good haircut.
02:29Want a kiss? Want a kiss?
02:36A bit sloppy those kisses, isn't it?
02:39This is Kato, she's an Australian wombat. She's the bulldozer of the bush.
02:45And in Asia, elephants are the bulldozers of the bush.
02:50The roads through the countryside of Sri Lanka are full of traffic.
02:54And right in the middle of it, a few working elephants still doing the heavy transport work.
03:09The elephant rider has called them a hood.
03:12They grow up with the elephant and spend their whole life together.
03:16Working elephants now share the road with the trucks and cars that are replacing them throughout Asia.
03:23As progress keeps moving, this is a sight that will soon be gone forever.
03:28Crikey! Crikey! Crikey!
03:32Crikey! Did you know you can tell an Asian elephant from an African elephant by the size of their ears?
03:42Elephants live in family groups and if an elephant gets separated from its mama, they have to go to an orphanage.
03:51And this place at Pinnaweela is one of the best in the whole world.
03:56This is an elephant orphanage, which is fantastic. I mean, it's absolutely brilliant.
04:01There's a lot of conflict between Sri Lankans and elephants with an ever-depleting wilderness.
04:07Elephants around the world are finding it harder and harder.
04:11They're a big animal. They eat hundreds of kilos a day.
04:14These are virtually orphans and some adults.
04:18Good Samaritans have saved the baby elephants and they've been little orphans and they've been raised up.
04:24And now they come here to live.
04:26Have a go at these two little young ones here. We've got the little baby one and his big sister.
04:32And they're wrestling. They're playing trunks together.
04:35So that one down there, the little tiny one, will be about a year old.
04:39And the one biting his head, just checking me out.
04:44Have a look at this poor old girl here.
04:47Poor thing, she hit a landmine.
04:49Very unfortunate injury, which means she would have died in the wild.
04:53Here at the orphanage, she's got a reasonably good life.
04:56They can't spend all day in the water and the mahouts go into the river to round them up.
05:02It's time to head off for their night's sleep.
05:08The poor old girl with the missing foot is a little bit slow, but the rest of the herd love her just the same.
05:15All money raised from the happy visitors goes towards feeding and taking care of these elephants.
05:23Ready, dig!
05:29Brian from Oregon has asked if I've ever ridden an elephant.
05:33Yes, I love to hang out with the elephant girls at Australia Zoo.
05:37Bimbo is the smallest and she's my favourite.
05:41There's also Sabu and Siam.
05:43These three Asian elephants were born in Burma.
05:47They are presently around 50 years old.
05:50They could live for many more years because they are so well cared for by their mahout, Brenton, and have a great time.
06:01This is a gorilla skull and this is a human skull.
06:04No, I got that confused.
06:06This is a gorilla skull and this is a human skull.
06:09Oh, I can't tell the difference.
06:12But you can tell the difference between a humongous elephant skull.
06:20Oh, pachyderm.
06:23Have a go at this.
06:25Here's the bottom jaw too.
06:27Have a look at this.
06:29That's the bottom jaw.
06:31You can see those huge big grinding teeth there.
06:34Look at that for a jaw.
06:36And the weight of it is pretty extreme.
06:38That is heavy, very dense bone.
06:40The head doesn't sit like that.
06:42It actually sits up like this.
06:48More like that.
06:50A bit more to the side there.
06:53That's it there.
06:55Now here's the sound box.
06:57Not much understood about it except that they can emit this incredible sound that's only plausible and audible to other elephants.
07:06This is their sense of communication.
07:08Incredible sound.
07:10I just wish I was 30 years down the track in time when we knew exactly what was going on in here.
07:17My dad's best friend Wes was just recently working with elephants.
07:22The elephants had fun but I had a blast.
07:25We're moving to Thailand to check out elephant rides and see their amazing skills.
07:31One of the few places in the world where elephants are held in very high regard is Thailand.
07:38Wes is going for a special ride through the streets of an old ancient city.
07:43These elephants are part of a culture that goes back thousands of years.
07:47They're trained to hold each other's tails when the mahout wants to keep them together.
07:52The saddle, the driver's costume, the decorations and the umbrella are all very traditional.
08:00Did you know the umbrella was actually invented in Asia?
08:04The wild ones are losing habitat and the working elephants are being retired.
08:10So tourist rides are great because it means a few more elephants get to have a future role.
08:16Wow, that's a long way up. Amazing stuff.
08:19Crikey!
08:20Crikey!
08:21Crikey!
08:22Crikey!
08:23Crikey!
08:24Crikey!
08:25Did you know that elephants have over 100,000 muscles in their trunks?
08:30For such a large animal, elephants are very steady on their feet.
08:35For such a large animal, elephants are very steady on their feet.
08:38They have the ability to balance on two legs and they can fit large objects.
08:43And boy, can they dance!
08:48I am an elephant of India
08:51I am an elephant of India
08:54Watch me sway, just swing way, all the way from my head to my toes
09:01I am an elephant of India
09:05I am an elephant of India
09:08Say goodbye to the flies in my eyes, the flake in my nose
09:16It's so hot here, Mr. Monkey
09:20Watch me shake my tail and swing my chunky
09:24Make the ground beat with my big grey feet
09:28I am an elephant of India
09:31I'm so hungry, Mr. Tiger
09:35Watch me use my trunk to reach up higher
09:39Make the ground shake like an earthquake
09:42I am an elephant of India
09:50I am an elephant of India
09:54I am an elephant of India
09:57It's so clear when you're near, cause I hear your every move
10:05It's so hot here, Mr. Monkey
10:08Watch me shake my tail and swing my chunky
10:12Make the ground beat with my big grey feet
10:16I am an elephant of India
10:24Indy! Woohoo!
10:27This is the Royal Corral, where elephants act out what used to be an ancient duty for the past kings of Thailand
10:35Elephants were often used in battles, swords, knives, bows, anything you could use to get the enemy
10:43Elephants fought in some of the greatest military battles of ancient history
10:48Thank goodness it's not real anymore
10:51These days the elephants treat the training as playtime, and so does Wes
11:03That was absolutely awesome
11:04Something else they can do is disarm anyone who tries to attack them
11:13And here's what happens when Wes tries to hang on to the spear
11:17And the elephant decides to take it
11:22Ready?
11:25Man, they're strong!
11:28Let's give this a go
11:33And what happens when elephants charge one another?
11:37These two huge animals lock tusks in a mock test of strength
11:42While the warriors pretend to fight it out with spears
11:46The elephants love the games
11:49What a fantastic creature
11:51I think elephants would have to be my favourite animal now
11:58The elephants really, really enjoy it too
12:00They have a lot of fun
12:01It's amazing
12:03In the old days we used the show like this to train a man to be a soldier
12:12It's amazing
12:13One, two, three
12:17My dad had the most amazing encounter with a herd of elephants in Africa
12:23They just appeared on the horizon
12:28My dad was travelling through this really dry part of Africa
12:32When he saw a cloud of dust in the distance
12:35So he just sat there and waited
12:38It was an amazing experience
12:40A herd of wild elephants came right up in front of him
12:44And started drinking from a water hole
12:46And my dad just sat watching
12:54Look at the baby
12:56She can barely reach the water
12:58They're in a hurry to fill up and move on
13:02There's a big storm brewing
13:04And the matriarch of the herd
13:06That's the leading female elephant
13:08Has to decide which is the safest way to go
13:14Historically speaking, people mean danger
13:22See the matriarch there
13:24With her trunk sitting on her head
13:26Her ears slightly splayed
13:29You know, these desert elephants can pick up a good patch of rain
13:33Way the heck over there
13:35Just by smelling
13:36Just by smelling
13:37And I'll head straight for it
13:45These girl elephants are known as cows
13:48And boy elephants are known as bulls
13:51And they're twice as big as Wes found out
13:56There's not many places in the world
13:58Where you can get this close and personal with a bull elephant
14:00Without getting stomped on
14:02But here at the Ayutthaya Royal Corral
14:04They do amazing stuff with training their elephants
14:06And you're able to get really up close and personal
14:09With these big boys
14:11Elephants are an incredible creature
14:13If you have a look at this trunk
14:15It's just like a human arm
14:17It's got over 150,000 muscles
14:20It's just all muscle
14:21It's able to grab large logs
14:23Pick them up
14:24Pick food up
14:25Put it in their mouth
14:26It's incredible
14:27Lift up really tall
14:28And of course
14:29Belcher
14:30So it's just like a hand
14:31The other amazing thing
14:33The big male elephants
14:34The big bulls
14:35Don't live in families
14:36They're too boisterous
14:37They only come in at certain times
14:39So these guys wander around
14:40It's the females and the young ones
14:42That live in large groups
14:43Elephants can use these tusks
14:45For practically all sorts of things
14:47Digging down in the ground
14:48To get to food
14:49Knocking down trees
14:50And of course
14:51In battle
14:56Have a look at these ears
14:58They're actually designed to cool the elephant down
15:01Really good cooling
15:02Like a big fan
15:03Have a look at this big tail
15:05Can be used for a few things
15:07Not only have you got to worry about their tusks
15:09But they can actually whack you in the face with their tail
15:11Very, very powerful
15:12Probably just knock you out
15:13But it's enough to go
15:14Get out of my face
15:17Have a look at the size of these feet
15:19They're huge
15:20But they're a huge animal
15:22So they're designed so they can walk through mud
15:24Up steep slopes
15:25In the rainforest
15:26And in the forest
15:27Very quiet too
15:29You never even know an elephant's near you
15:31When they're walking around
15:37In Thailand
15:38Elephants aren't used for logging anymore
15:40Which is a good thing
15:41But in the old days
15:42These guys were the prized elephant
15:44They're strong
15:45They're big
15:46And they can lift a lot of timber
15:47And move a lot of timber
15:48Which is what they use them for
15:50Elephants have been hunted for centuries
15:52For the ivory
15:53Not so much in Thailand
15:54Because the Thais really, really love their elephants
15:56As part of their
15:57Or their tradition
15:58And their religion
15:59But in other places
16:00This is what's caused elephants to become nearly extinct
16:03Especially in places like Africa
16:05After work
16:06It's dinner time
16:08And that trunk
16:09Is what allows them to grow so big
16:12It can shove in a huge amount of food
16:14To be pushed down to their great big teeth
16:17By an enormous fleshy tongue
16:26Elephants are so light on their feet
16:28That they're actually pretty good dancers
16:40This is Rhino
16:41He's a rhino iguana
16:43They're just like dinosaurs
16:45But I think they remind me of elephants
16:48They're big
16:49Strong
16:50And they're cute
16:51This little boy was born at the Thailand Royal Crown
16:55Elephants only have babies
16:57If they're really content with life
16:59And check out how happy this one is
17:02He loves to play
17:04But he can be a little bit rough
17:11Mate
17:12They're so strong little elephants
17:16This guy's only
17:18About three months old
17:20And already he's really, really strong
17:23Very, very playful
17:25Little elephants have an absolutely fantastic life
17:28They're a really, really spoilt family
17:32They're actually raised by the
17:35All the grandmas, mothers, aunties
17:40So they really, really look after them
17:42And as you can see
17:44Hey you little
17:47Hey
17:54You're too cute
17:56You're a little elephant
17:57Look at your little trunk
17:59They're just like a little kid
18:00Hey
18:01Hey
18:03You're a good little boy
18:06I don't think I've ever seen anything more beautiful
18:09Than a little baby elephant
18:14Here at Australia Zoo
18:15We take our elephants swimming every day
18:18They just love getting in the water
18:20And cooling down
18:21As Wes found out in Thailand
18:24After a day of carrying sightseers
18:26Or training for mock battles
18:28It's bath time
18:31I've been washing the boards
18:32And the idea is not to get wet
18:34We'll see how that goes
18:35That's what you think, Wes
18:37I've been washing the boards
18:39And the idea is not to get wet
18:41We'll see how that goes
18:42That's what you think, Wes
18:43You're the only one who doesn't know what's going to happen
18:47We know
18:48The mahouts know
18:50And even the elephants know
18:52This is going to be great
18:54Wes is on the highest part of the elephant
18:57But stand by
18:58Here's where the elephant takes over
19:01He hasn't got a chance
19:03The elephant lets him think he can stay dry
19:06But it's all a big tease
19:08Everyone gets wet
19:10Every time
19:11And they love it
19:27This is when the elephants and their riders
19:29Really bond with each other
19:31And by now Wes is wishing he could stay in Thailand
19:34And become the first Australian mahout
19:42That's awesome
19:51Elephants are just as comfortable in the water
19:54As they are on land
19:56They're really great swimmers
19:58They can even submerge and breathe through their trunk
20:02It's a built-in snorkel
20:04Elephants have also been known to swim in the open ocean
20:08Moving from island to island
20:10To find better food
20:11To have this huge creature
20:13It weighs like just 4 or 5 ton
20:16Underneath you in the water
20:17It's so gentle
20:18It knows you're there
20:19It's just absolutely awesome
20:21I'll never forget it
20:22It's incredible
20:24Good boy
20:32Young elephants are really playful
20:34But they are still so strong
20:38My dad loves Singapore Zoo
20:40Their elephants are breeding
20:42And that means they're happy elephants
20:44This is Raja
20:45And he's 4 years old
20:47And his friend, his mate
20:50Has been working with him
20:52Ever since he was born
20:54And they make it fun
20:56Make it a lot of fun
20:58And he's a great success story for Singapore Zoo
21:01Because he's the first male
21:03That has ever been born here
21:08Push, push
21:10Very good boy
21:11How's that?
21:12It's all on vocal command
21:16Push it up, boy
21:23Good boy, Raja
21:25In the wild, they push trees over to find food
21:28So now he gets a reward
21:30Could I please give him one more banana?
21:33Here you go, Raja
21:35Here you go, good boy
21:38Thank you, thank you very much
21:40Now check this out for a test of strength
21:48How's that?
21:52Good boy
21:53I cannot push it
21:54Easy for Raja
21:56Impossible for my dad
21:58Can I?
22:01I like it
22:02We just adore elephants
22:04Those big, huge animals
22:06And they've got such personality
22:08We love them
22:09But you know, I think the one who had the most fun on this show
22:13Would have had to be Wes
22:15I think I had the most fun of all of you
22:18We'll see you next time for more Fun in the Jungle