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The Elephant Whisperer of Thailand

Lek Chailert fights for the welfare of elephants working in logging camps, with the help of a Hollywood star.

Lek Chailert spent her childhood in a small hill village in northern Thailand, where she lived surrounded by animals. She's since become an activist working to improve the welfare of working elephants, some of which are trained using cruel methods. She's raising the profile of her work with a new documentary, made with the help of Hollywood star Ashley Bell.

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Image: An elephant puts its trunk on Lek Chailert's ear.
Credit: Palani Mohan/Getty Images

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15 minutes

Podcast