Are India’s Elephants Blessed Creatures or Indentured Servants?
Photographs of Majestic Animals Caught Between Two Roles—and Two Eras
In 2011, I visited the magnificent Amber Fort in Jaipur, in the Rajasthan region of India. The beautiful Hindu-style architecture of the fort is adorned with large ramparts and cobbled paths that overlook Maota Lake, where elephants give tourists rides. I was enchanted watching these majestic animals as they slowly and meticulously walked among people and cars without a glance sideways. They were dignified and elegant, and I was fascinated by the textures in their skin, large tusks, and flapping ears.
When a guide invited me to see a newborn …
