Man performs Moonlight Sonata for 61-year-old elephant

Paul Barton (previously at Boing Boing) plays the piano for elephants and has been at it for many years. Here he is performing Beethoven's Quasi una fantasia, the Moonlight Sonata, for an old one who's led a rough life.

Mongkol is a 61-year-old former logging elephant. His captive-held life was spent hauling trees in the Thai forest. His body shape is deformed through hard labor, he lost his right eye and tusk in this brutal logging practice. Mongkol was rescued and brought to Elephants World to spend the rest of his days relaxing peacefully in freedom by the River Kwai. I discovered Mongkol is an extremely gentle, sensitive elephant who enjoys music, especially this slow movement by Beethoven which I play to him occasionally in the day and night.