National Geographic's Elephant

Overall, Elephant is an engaging study of nature's largest land animal. While the viewer is treated to beautiful images of elephant family life, the film is true to its narrative in depicting the flip side: the wasteful death of elephants shot by poachers; the cruel "breaking" of elephants who are forced into a life of domestic servitude; and the "cropping" (killing) that is enforced by park rangers in the name of population control. Gritty and honest, this film does not shy away from presenting the reality of the elephant's present and its uncertain future. --Katy Ankenman

Description
Of all the creatures that walk the planet, the elephant is the biggest, strongest, and among the most intelligent. From Sri Lanka to Kenya, ELEPHANT is a charming, sometimes alarming, in-depth look at this magnificent animal and its precarious future. In Asia, watch man and beast work side-by-side in a land where the elephant is an object of worship and affection. In the open spaces of Africa, marvel at the behavior of wild elephants as they communicate over great distances. And finally, witness the birth of a baby elephant as it struggles to its feet for the very first time.