The Ballad of the Mahout

Life is hard training, driving and keeping elephants.

August 1, 2006

WANTED elephant handlers: male, healthy, enjoy adventures in the jungle, love elephants. Tasks: train and feed elephants, and patrol the jungle to care for elephants. Salary: Rp85,000 per month. Risks: being kicked, rammed, and pursued by herds of trumpeting pachyderms as well as facing armed hunters or illegal loggers.

The job advertisement reached Slamet, an unemployed man from Moyudan subdistrict, Sleman regency, 20 kilometers to the west of Yo

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