VANISHING GIANTS (2001-2006)

While the African elephant population is thriving, the Asian elephant is increasingly under pressure. The explosive growth in the human population, increasing land being claimed for agriculture and industry and the illegal felling of forests are robbing the Asian elephant of its original territory. In the whole of South and Southeast Asia there are only about 40,000 animals still surviving. Previously Thailand alone had over 100,000. Everywhere the elephant collides with man. His trails are blocked and he is taken captive to serve as a working animal or tourist attraction. In Myanmar elephants are killed for their tusks, in Cambodia they regularly step on landmines. Their situation is in shrill contrast to their status in South and Southeast Asia. The elephant can be found everywhere as an Asian logo: in woven carpets, on temple walls and as the figurehead for businesses.