This pianist makes beautiful performances for battered elephants

When he moved to Thailand 22 years ago, talented pianist Paul Barton believed he would only teach the instrument techniques to students in a private school. That all changed when he met Khwan, the woman who would be his future wife and an animal lover, who did his best to help preserve endangered species.

Barton then came into contact with a sanctuary that rescued abused elephants and gave a dignified life to these majestic animals. But he would like to use his skills as a musician to help even more. That was when the idea of ​​organizing piano performances as a way of calming and pleasing animals began.

“I was wondering if these rescued old elephants would like to hear slow classical music on the piano, so I asked if I could bring my piano and play for the elephants. They allowed it, ”said the artist in an interview with Mother Nature Network. The beautiful results are published by him on his YouTube channel.

After so long playing for these animals it is even natural that certain stronger bonds have formed. An example of this was Plara, an old blind elephant whose tusks were violently removed for ivory. At the time, few visitors came to the site, leaving Paul plenty of free time to play for the animal.

Unfortunately, the infection caused by the aggressions suffered resulted in Paul's death. “He seemed to listen and, by his reactions, liked the music. He allowed me to live, ”said the pianist. As you can see in the video below, which features the presence of the blind elephant Barton, the animals feel comfortable and calm enough to get close during the presentations.

Paul knows the risks to his life, but he believes he can calm even the biggest and fiercest elephants with the power of his music. Some techniques, such as handing a banana when you first meet the animal and not showing fear, also help in the process. At least for now, the animals seem to be happy with the neighborhood.

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