Thailand, Ayutthaya, men crossing river on elephants backs, smiling

July 2004. Elephants with mahouts on their backs cross the river of this ancient former Thai capital July 2004 in Ayutthaya, Thailand. There are now less than 50,000 Asian elephants, both living in the wild and in captivity; a tiny number compared to their 600,000-strong African cousins. Some of the region's elephants still labour in jungle logging camps, alongside mahouts whose craft has been handed down through the generations. But with most nations having banned timber-felling, thousands of other beasts and their handlers have had to find another way to earn their living.