Thailand's musical elephants

By Phil Mercer BBC correspondent, Thailand

Phong is one of Thailand's exceptional young musicians.

CD sales help to pay for a conservation centre

At the age of four, he plays the renat - a xylophone-like Thai instrument - and his paintings have sold to visitors from around the world.

A remarkable achievement, especially considering Phong is an elephant, living at a conservation centre near the northern Thai town of Lampang.

The world's first elephant orchestra was formed here two years ago and is now busy recording its second CD, deep in the lush countryside.

When you hear the elephant music you're hearing what they mean to make

Dave Soldier

In a small area overlooking a lake and surrounded by trees, Phong and 10 other elephants are in the middle of their latest performance.

They are stood in a line, prompted by their trainers as their trunks work furiously on their instruments.

The conductor paces up and down, carefully orchestrating proceedings.

The project is the brainchild of Richard Lair, an American who has dedicated his life to preserving Thailand's magnificent national animal.

"There're many purposes behind this. One is to make beautiful, interesting music. But elephants in Thailand are in great trouble and need help," he told BBC News Online.

The new album - the Elephonic Rhapsodies - is the latest weapon in the fight to conserve the elephants of Thailand.

Techno versions of the new tracks are in the pipeline

A century ago there were more than 100,000 working in the timber industry or roaming in the forests.

Today there are just 2,500 in captivity and even fewer in the wild.

Deforestation and the banning of logging have removed the elephants' chief source of employment, while over the years hunters have decimated the population.

"We're constantly trying to find new things that are non-abusive to the elephants but can entertain people and make money to meet our payroll," said Mr Lair, a veteran conservationist who has spent more than 20 years in Thailand.

Soul music

Elephants have huge brains and are highly sociable.

The animals' keepers - or mahouts - said they love their music.

But for many foreign visitors, such as Matt and Becky from London, this heavyweight orchestra can be a bewildering experience.

"It was very good, very good," said Matt. "But totally bizarre, yeah. It was probably the maddest thing I've ever seen."

"It was very strange. The elephants were all banging away. It's probably the worst music I've ever heard but it was done by elephants so it was really lovely," added Becky.

All orchestras need a conductor. Dave Soldier, a neuroscientist, has flown in from New York to take part in this latest musical project. He believes the sounds the elephants make is a window into their soul.

"When you hear the elephant music you're hearing what they mean to make. I think it allows you to understand them in a different way than you could otherwise."

The elephants' handlers report no rock-star tantrums among the 11-strong band of drummers and percussionists.

Techno versions of the new tracks are planned, along with others with a Country and Western flavour.

The project goals are not platinum record sales rather something more humble: to highlight the uncertain future these awesome creatures are facing across South East Asia.