This mahout is bathing his rescued elephant using a cocoanut shell. Most elephant handlers learn their trade as a boy, a family tradition, which includes bathing and massages with coconut husks. This poor elephant appears to have been abused by fire and other horrors. There are three types of mahouts. The gentle man falls into the Reghawan category. He chooses love and kindness to control his elephant versus cruelty. A powerful lifetime bond is created when a young mahout chooses this approach.