The Elephant Keeper

For many years Asian elephants were used in the relatively simple lowintensity logging operations in Thailand and elsewhere in the region As the move to scythe down whole forests progresses there is less and less use for these elephants heavy machinery works more efficiently in a clearcutting situation In this story a young elephant keeper manages to save the life of a forest ranger dedicated to keeping the national forest preserves safe from poaching The elephantkeeper on the other hand is economically compelled to work for the poachers in order to keep his family fed and to preserve the family lands from sale by a greedy businessman who once loaned them money