Return to the Forest: Eye-opening documentary seeks to save Thailand’s elephants

by Alex A. Kecskes

Nearly a century ago, there were over 100,000 elephants in Thailand. That number has shrunk to just 4,000.

A super keystone species and forester, elephants contributed to the forest’s ecology for twenty million years. Today, the link between the elephant and forest is broken. Fortunately, plans are underway to re-introduce elephants to the forests, allowing them to roam freely in special sanctuaries. Return to the Forest reminds us that elephants are gardeners of the forest, contributing to seed dispersal and creating trails for other creatures. Set free, they form social groups. The film underscores the point that every hour, something becomes extinct on Earth. In Thailand, that could include elephants in just thirty years.

In this interview, filmmaker Patricia Sims provides some insights into this important subject and reveals the many challenges in bringing Return to the Forest to the screen.

 Why do you think you were selected to receive the Best Shorts Competition Humanitarian award?

Sims: I think we’ve been selected because we have been filming Asian elephant conservation issues for almost five years, based in Thailand, and we are very dedicated to spreading awareness about their plight through film, and also portraying some of the positive solutions underway to protect them. As a short documentary, Return to the Forest is the first of two films that we have been working on about these issues, and we are still working on the second, which is a feature-length documentary. So, we’re very committed to the cause and hope that both films will be a call-to-action for people to help protect elephants in any way they can.

 How has receiving this award helped you?

Sims: It’s quite an honor to be selected for this award. My co-filmmaker Michael Clark and I are very appreciative of this recognition we have received for our work. The award has helped us by bring attention to our filmmaking, to the work of the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation, and to the plight of Asian elephants.

 Where did the idea for the film originate?

Sims: The idea for the film originated through research I was doing on Asian elephant conservation strategies in Southwest China, which eventually led us to Thailand. We began to follow the lives of captive elephants that were used for street begging in the urban areas. One of these young elephants was rescued by the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation to be released to the wild. We contacted the Foundation about our interest in following this young elephant as she was returned to live free in the forest. Because Asian elephants are an endangered species, we believed it was really important to tell this positive story about some solutions that are working to save these magnificent animals. We met with the Foundation and learned about their mission and success of releasing other captive elephants to the wild. This led us to make this short film about this organization’s remarkable conservation work.

 Was this your first film about animals? If so, how was it different than your other films?

Sims: Michael Clark and I have made several films about animals, conservation issues, and the interrelationships between humans, animals and the environment. Many of our other films also portray traditional and cultural themes, but Return to the Forest is a bit different because it focuses specifically on a conservation solution and the work of the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation.

 Why is this subject important to you?

Sims: The conservation and protection of Asian elephants is incredibly important to us because Asian elephants are a critically endangered species and play an important role in the ecosystem, which we portray in Return to the Forest. Asian elephants face numerous threats including poaching, but the biggest threat is habitat loss. Unless protected areas are set aside for them in the few Asian countries where they still roam, in less than thirty years there will not be any wild Asian elephants left in the world. Therefore, organizations such as the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation are setting a very positive example of how captive elephants can be successfully returned to protected areas so that they can regenerate not only an endangered population, but also forest habitat.

 How closely did you work with the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation?

Sims: We worked very closely with the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation. Although most of the elephants were once captive, when they are returned to the forest they have to be approached as wild elephants and can be dangerous. So it was important for us to work with staff who understand the elephants’ behaviors and the environment in which they live. We worked with the field staff to track the elephants and film their social behaviors and camped for a few months in the protected forested areas where the elephants are released. All the Foundation staff were extremely helpful to us during the making of the film, sharing their knowledge and experience with us.

 How closely did you work with Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand?

Sims: The Elephant Reintroduction Foundation is an initiative of HM Queen Sirikit of Thailand, and is a Royal project in Thailand. Presently HM Queen Sirikit is not directly involved in the Foundation’s day-to-day activities although she released the first elephants back to the forest when the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation was inaugurated over ten years ago, and the Foundation operates with her mission to return elephants to the forest.

 Who funded the film?

Sims: The film was funded by four Thai sponsors: Crown Property Bureau Foundation, Siam Cement Group, Siam Commercial Bank, Bangkok Bank–who are all supporters of the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation’s mission and work.

 What was the most challenging part of making the film?

Sims: Filming in the elephants’ forest habitat was very challenging. It’s a jungle, with very dense vegetation and a very hot and humid climate. Lighting conditions were tricky, depending on the time of day, and it was tedious coping with insects, mud and rain. Keeping our batteries charged and our footage backed up on drives was a challenge because we had limited access to electricity. Finding the elephants also presented some challenges particularly if they didn’t want to be filmed because they would move through the forest very quickly, making it difficult for us to follow them.

 What was the most enjoyable part?

Sims: Making Return to the Forest was incredibly enjoyable! Despite the challenges of filming in the jungle, there is nothing like spending time with elephants in their natural habitat. They are truly the most amazing creatures I have ever met. The most impressive experience was filming the baby elephant when she was born in the forest. It was such a joy to witness this cute curious creature’s first hours in the world and this is one of my most memorable filming experiences.

 What permits and permissions did you need to get to make the film?

Sims: The Elephant Reintroduction Foundation operates in collaboration with the Department of Forestry in three vast protected forest habitats that have restricted public access. So, we needed permission from both of these organizations to film in these areas.

 What advice would you give to other filmmakers interested in making a film like this?

Sims: Follow your heart, be patient, and wait for the magic to happen. And don’t forget your flashlight!

 How has the film impacted the ERF and Queen Sirikit?

Sims: The film has brought international attention to the work of the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation, as a Royal initiative of HM Queen Sirikit. For many years the organization had operated with minimal media and public outreach, and many people, even within Thailand, were unaware of their work. We released Return to the Forest on World Elephant Day, which we co-founded on August 12, 2012 with the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation, as an international awareness campaign to inform the public about the serious plight of elephants. Since then Return to the Forest has been viewed thousands of times on the World Elephant Day website, and has been screened at film festivals worldwide. Thousands of people have learned about the successful work of the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation and also about the important role the elephants play in the forest ecosystem, and the urgency to protect these habitats so that Asian elephants and the forests can continue to thrive.

 How can people help this cause?

Sims: People can help this cause by supporting the elephant conservation organizations that are doing the on-the-ground work to protect elephants, such as the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation. Link  People can learn more by visiting the World Elephant Day website. Link Many organizations are listed on the World Elephant Day website as well as a list of things that we can all do, as consumers, to help save elephants. People can also help support the completion of our feature-length documentary Elephants Never Forget which is currently in post-production. Please visit our website. Link