The first time Paul Barton played piano for the herd at the Elephants World sanctuary, a blind elephant stopped eating and froze—grass still dangling from his mouth—to listen. Located in the Asian nation of Thailand, the sanctuary is home to a number of animals that once were used to carry timber in the logging industry. Many are old, injured, or disabled.
Barton, a British-born musician, knew that before the elephants came to the reserve, their lives had often been very stressful. He hoped serenading them with soothing music would help them recover. Studies show that relaxing melodies can calm many animals. Sure enough, Barton quickly noticed the positive effect Beethoven and Bach were having on the creatures, which would sway to the rhythm while he played.
Soon Barton became a regular at the center, returning frequently to perform for the herd. The animals are free to wander up to the piano while he plays. “We work to make the lives of these rescued elephants better,” Barton says. “Playing for them is an unforgettable feeling.”