Elderly blind elephant enjoys classical piano concert
Lam Duan is well into her golden years and, despite no longer having her sight, still enjoys discovering the finer things in life.
On the banks of the River Kwai in Thailand, you will find Elephants World, a sanctuary that offers elephants respite from a life of abuse. Charity workers rehabilitate elephants, restoring some dignity to their lives.
There are many ways to improve the lives of animals when they are in the sanctuary and, not surprisingly, music therapy is one of these.
British pianist Paul Barton first discovered the mesmerising effect that classical music has on elephants when he witnessed the way an elephant named Pla-Ra froze and stared at him in awe when it first heard him play Beethoven.
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Paul continued to play for elephants and most recently shared the private show that he played for an elderly blind elephant named Lam Duan.
Lam Duan, who has had a difficult life filled with hard labour, was immediately transported by the music of Bach.
Completely calm in the presence of Paul and his piano (which he had hauled up the mountain so he could be as close to the elephant as possible), Lam Duan begins to sway her trunk to the sound of the music, clearly enjoying it very much.
Though Lam Duan is blind, she is still able to recognise the beauty in moments like these.