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Laos: Two pack elephants transport straw in a small village in southern Laos in 1897.

Laos: Two pack elephants transport straw in a small village in southern Laos in 1897.

As a ‘Beast of Burden’, the Asiatic elephant was not highly rated. It could carry little more than 150 kg despite its great size. They could not be overworked for fear of heart strain, and required constant care and feeding. Often the elephants’ feet were hobbled to prevent them wandering. Most working elephants were used for carrying timber, which they did with their trunks.

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