Strong photos about the difficult relationship of Asians with elephants

"We are in Asia has not yet fully understood whether we hate these animals or love them," says photographer Palani Mohan. He himself hails from the Indian state of Madras. Mohan spent five years filming elephants for his project "Disappearing Giants". This series is a testament to how humanity loves — and offends - Asian elephants that live with humans.

The idea of the project was born to Mohan when he lived in Thailand, where elephants are forced to beg on the street — or revered as a deity in monasteries. He realized that these animals, the symbol of Thailand, after which hotels and even children are named, are also subjected to violence and exploitation.

The photographer visited more than ten countries and met countless elephants, each of which, according to him, had its own character. Most of all he liked young animals — they are very playful. However, Mohan emphasizes that keeping an elephant is a big responsibility, and they should be treated with care, respect and caution.

A tear runs from the eye of an elephant that was kept in a wooden machine for three days on the Thai-Burmese border.

Mahout (mahout) leads an elephant, west of Thailand.

Wild elephant in the Chitwan National Park in Sri Lanka.

The elephant's return to the camp in the Chitwan National Park in Sri Lanka.

Elephants carved into the rock at the Ellora Temple in India.

A young elephant screams while being dragged, the Thai-Burmese border.

Taming a young elephant using boards with nails, ropes and a wooden machine in a remote village on the Thai-Burmese border.

An elephant rehearses before a performance for tourists in the village of Ban Ta Klang in Thailand.

Mahout with a hook.

A male during rutting in the Madumalai National Park in southern India.

Elephant transportation by truck in the capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo.

Bathing dozens of elephants in a nature reserve in Sri Lanka.

An elephant grabbed a street vendor during a Thai New Year celebration.

In Sri Lanka, it is considered a good omen to walk under an elephant with your child.

Elephant begging in Bangkok.

An elephant swims near a logging camp in southern India.

Cleaning an elephant in southern India.

Mahout with an elephant in Sri Lanka.