Asian Elephants with Goldie Hawn

Oscar-winning actress Goldie Hawn loves everything about India, but is especially captivated by Asian elephants. Seven years ago she travelled to India and saw a very special wild elephant which stayed in her heart. Now she returns to discover more about these endangered animals, and to try to find her special elephant again. Though revered in Hinduism and Buddhism, the Asian elephant is in serious trouble; two thirds of India’s wild elephants have been killed in the last hundred years. It’s not just hunters or poachers who threaten the remaining 20,000, though. Elephants are competing with the rapidly increasing human population of India for survival. Goldie begins with an offering to the elephant-god Ganesh for good luck, and then meets Asian elephant advocate Mark Shand, and his elephant Tara. Goldie is thrilled to find herself bathing Tara and learning to ride her. Goldie then heads off with Mark’s Indian colleague and friend, Aditya Patankar, who guides her to a reunion with her elephant in the wild. As it turns out, there is an extra surprise waiting for Goldie when she gets there.