They’ve tried dogs, they’ve tried horses, they’ve even tried dolphins, but now elephant therapy for autistic children is showing some good results. A series of photos is here. A pilot project with the government-run Thai Elephant Conservation Center up in the North.
I can tell you that playing with an elephant improves pretty much any situation.
Heehee, that is awesome! Elephants are beautiful, inspiring creatures. I noticed the elephants had paint on them in some of the pictures – is that from the art part of the therapy, or is it some kind of religious decorating thing like Diwali cow-decorating?
In these photos, it looks purely decorative. But I have seen some elephants painted up with a combination of Buddhist and magic symbols. Usually, the mahout (handler) will then take the elephant around, and you pay a nominal fee to crouch down and walk under the elephant from one side and out the other. It’s supposed to bring good luck and seems especially popular with pregnant women.
I suppose if the elephant doesn’t lie down on you while you’re underneath it, then the good luck has already begun. 