The elephant has its own very complex social structure, this huge wild animal has the strength to kill a man with a flick of its trunk or crush him to death underfoot, so why does this powerful creature humble itself to serve man?  Trainers, known as mahouts, capture wild elephants and domesticate them.  

The same techniques have been used for centuries; the elephants being soothed by words, songs and music.  They work alongside people hauling logs in the forests, and are used for transportation as well as being the kind you see in the circus.   Archaeological studies in the Indus Valley civilization (circa 2400 BC) show their use in domestic and military service, much the same as today. 

 These powerful creatures have not become endangered because of domestication.  In fact, its domestication has always given the elephants’ existence a unique place in human society and continues to do so.  How it began is lost in the mists of time, this relationship continues today in remote jungle areas.  India is the land of the elephant, every village in India has its own temple elephant, and ancient temples had them carved in stone.  During religious festivals and ceremonies elephants are brought into the market places and decorated.