| In the town of Lampang in northern Thailand, there is | | | | better than they see. And so he had an idea: if |
| an unusual group of musicians. They play many | | | | elephants are intelligent and they have good hearing, |
| different kinds of music -- everything from traditional | | | | maybe they can play music. To test his idea, Lair and |
| Thai songs to music by Beethoven. Both children and | | | | a friend started the Thai Elephant Orchestra. During a |
| adults love this group. What makes them so popular? | | | | performance, the elephants play a variety of |
| Is it their music? Their looks? Yes, it's both of these | | | | instruments, including the drums and the xylophone. |
| things, but it's also something else: they're elephants. | | | | The animals also use their voices and trunks to make |
| These musical elephants started at the Thai Elephant | | | | sounds. |
| Conservation Center (TECC) in Lampang. The TECC | | | | But can elephants really make music properly? Yes, |
| protects elephants. It teaches people to understand | | | | says Lair. They're very creative. Humans encourage |
| and care for these huge, but gentle, animals. And, like | | | | the animals to play, but the elephants make their |
| many zoos around the world, the TECC encourages | | | | own songs; they don't just copy their trainers or |
| elephants to paint. | | | | other people. There are now CDs of the group's |
| Richard Lair works with the TECC. He knows a lot | | | | music, which earn money for the TECC. And the |
| about elephants. He says some of the animals' | | | | music these artists create is pretty amazing. |
| paintings are very good. But, in fact, elephants hear | | | | |
