0:00:18 > 0:00:20I'm Natasha and I'm 12...
0:00:20 > 0:00:23She can be funny. She can also be very competitive.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26..and this is my 14-year-old brother, Joe.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30He can be a little annoying but we get along OK.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33We live in the Midlands with our mum, dad and dog Betsy.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39This is Bae Fern. She's a three-year-old Asian elephant
0:00:39 > 0:00:42and this is her mum, Thom Kam.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45They live nearly 3,000 miles away in Thailand
0:00:45 > 0:00:46and work in a tourist camp.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50The elephants are treated really badly.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54They're forced to give rides to people and do unnatural things.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57So my family has been raising money to help Bae Fern and her mum.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02We're going to rescue them from the tourist camp and walk them
0:01:02 > 0:01:0483 miles to freedom.
0:01:05 > 0:01:06It's just unreal.
0:01:06 > 0:01:12It's a mission filled with danger, difficulty and drama.
0:01:12 > 0:01:13That's a steep fall.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19It's our big elephant rescue!
0:01:23 > 0:01:26- Do you remember that, Joe? - I had to sleep with you in a tent.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28THEY LAUGH
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Six years ago, we went on holiday to Thailand as a family.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34This is when you first met elephants.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36- That was such fun.- Yeah.
0:01:36 > 0:01:37That's a nice picture.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43I love elephants so much because they're so big
0:01:43 > 0:01:45but they're so gentle.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48It's always been my dream to be an elephant vet.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52They're such beautiful, magical creatures.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55But we discovered some elephants in Thailand are in trouble.
0:01:56 > 0:02:01There are more elephants living in tourist camps than in the wild
0:02:01 > 0:02:05and holiday-makers pay to ride them and see them perform tricks.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10We found out that elephants aren't treated very well
0:02:10 > 0:02:13and, in some camps, they're treated very badly.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19A camp is where elephants are forced to do things
0:02:19 > 0:02:21for the tourists' entertainment.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26From the riding, elephants get bad backs
0:02:26 > 0:02:29because an elephant's back isn't designed for a chair.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33They are constantly being controlled by hooks.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36They are forced to dance to music as well
0:02:36 > 0:02:38and this is really bad for the elephants
0:02:38 > 0:02:40because standing on their back legs or sitting down
0:02:40 > 0:02:44can actually crush their internal organs.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48It makes me just feel like, why would you make an elephant do that?
0:02:48 > 0:02:49I just don't really get it.
0:02:49 > 0:02:54Like, it's obvious that's not how an elephant would naturally behave.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58It's strange how people can somehow convince themselves
0:02:58 > 0:03:00that they're doing nothing wrong.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03An elephant doesn't want to be dancing or painting
0:03:03 > 0:03:05or giving you a ride.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09An elephant would much rather be free in the forest,
0:03:09 > 0:03:11ripping down trees or swimming in a river.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18We decided to try and help the elephants
0:03:18 > 0:03:21so, two years ago, we set up a charity.
0:03:21 > 0:03:26We're hoping that, in the future, elephants won't have to live
0:03:26 > 0:03:29or work in camps and they won't have to do dancing or tricks.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33We're starting by rescuing two elephants who currently live
0:03:33 > 0:03:34and work in a tourist camp.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39We've raised the money to take them home to Huay Pakkoot,
0:03:39 > 0:03:41the Thai mountain village that owns them.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46- Good luck. - Thanks.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50Today, I'm talking to my classmates about our big elephant rescue.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54We are walking two elephants, a mother called Thom Kam
0:03:54 > 0:03:56and her baby, Bae Fern.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59We are going to be walking them eight days through Thai jungle,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02where we can take them back to their home in the forest.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04We're working closely with the villagers.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07They had to send their elephants to a tourist camp in Chiang Mai
0:04:07 > 0:04:11to earn money, but now we'll pay for them for as long as we can.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14The tribe can't afford to keep them and provide food for all
0:04:14 > 0:04:17its villagers, so they've had to send them to the camps to work.
0:04:17 > 0:04:22We're going to raise the funds to help them live there again,
0:04:22 > 0:04:26where elephants get to live in their natural home in the forest.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32Our 83-mile trek with Thom Kam and Bae Fern is a giant sponsored walk.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36There are 13 of us taking part and we have all been busy raising
0:04:36 > 0:04:39money so we can free the two elephants from the tourist camp.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41Thank you so much for listening.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43I'll keep you updated on how the trek goes.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45APPLAUSE
0:04:45 > 0:04:47She did a really good presentation.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50It made me want to help as much as I could.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54I now understand a lot more about how elephants are treated
0:04:54 > 0:04:57and how it's not that good in some places.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59I'm really proud of what she's doing
0:04:59 > 0:05:01and I think it's for a really good cause.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09- Is this a hill or a mountain? - A hill.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11This is a hill!?
0:05:11 > 0:05:15Walking continually for 83 miles is going to be really hard,
0:05:15 > 0:05:17so we're doing lots of training to get fit!
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Hard.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23It's very, very steep.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28We'll be taking the elephants all the way from the tourist camp
0:05:28 > 0:05:32back to their village, high in the mountains.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34It's going to be very rainy because it is the rainy season,
0:05:34 > 0:05:36so there is going to be a lot more mud.
0:05:36 > 0:05:37It's going to be a lot more slippy,
0:05:37 > 0:05:39but then it's going to be very hot as well,
0:05:39 > 0:05:44so it's going to be a lot more difficult than here.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Our big elephant rescue will take us over a week
0:05:47 > 0:05:50and, every night, we'll be camping out in the Thai forest.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55I've done some practice camping in hammocks
0:05:55 > 0:05:58and I like them and I think I'll be able to do it,
0:05:58 > 0:06:01but I'm a bit nervous.
0:06:01 > 0:06:02Shall we race to the top?
0:06:04 > 0:06:06We're very competitive.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09We'll always trying to be the first to get to the top of the hill.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12It's not fair, you've got longer legs.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Me and Natasha will help each other through.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18It's going to be tough, so I think we'll all have to help each other.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29I am packing all the things I'm going to need
0:06:29 > 0:06:32for the long flight over to Thailand.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Mum is downstairs packing all the important things,
0:06:36 > 0:06:39like my walking boots because it's going to be so muddy and wet.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45Even without the elephants, it would be just such an amazing thing,
0:06:45 > 0:06:49walking through Thai jungle,
0:06:49 > 0:06:53but add in the elephants and it's going to be 100 times better
0:06:53 > 0:06:55cos we'll really get to know the elephants
0:06:55 > 0:06:57and we'll get to spend time with them
0:06:57 > 0:06:59and I'm really looking forward to it.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07See you in Thailand!
0:07:31 > 0:07:34We're now in Chiang Mai and it's really different here.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37It's really busy, it's hectic, there's a lot of people.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43Here in Chiang Mai, there are elephants everywhere.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46There are a lot of elephants on T-shirts.
0:07:46 > 0:07:51I've seen elephant ties, dresses, trousers.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57In Thailand, people think elephants are sacred,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00but, sadly, that doesn't always mean they are treated well.
0:08:03 > 0:08:04ELEPHANT TRUMPETS
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Today, we're helping out in an elephant sanctuary.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11Most of the animals here have been rescued from tourist camps.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15It saves lots of elephants who are really badly treated in the camps.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19Elephants like Pang Dow.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Pang Dow broke her ankle
0:08:21 > 0:08:24because she was wearing such a short chain
0:08:24 > 0:08:28and she was pushed forward, probably by another elephant.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31She just went into it and her leg just went over,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34which is why she's got quite a deformed ankle.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Every day, Pang Dow's ankle is bathed in medicine
0:08:38 > 0:08:39so it doesn't get infected.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46Lotus has abscesses all down the backs of her legs
0:08:46 > 0:08:48and they need to be cleaned out every day.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Right in the hole. That's it. Good girl, Lotus.
0:08:51 > 0:08:52I want to be a vet.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54This is like vet stuff.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56I think most kids would probably find it a bit weird
0:08:56 > 0:08:58and maybe a bit gross, but I don't.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01I think it's really interesting and actually quite fun.
0:09:01 > 0:09:02Excellent.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06Seeing the damage up close has made us even more determined
0:09:06 > 0:09:08to rescue our two elephants
0:09:08 > 0:09:11so they don't have to work and can go home to the forest.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16The next morning, we join our fellow trekkers.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18We're leaving.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22Everyone else doing the trek has also been sponsored.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25It's finally time to meet the elephants,
0:09:25 > 0:09:28mum Thom Kam and her baby Bae Fern.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30Bae Fern's very small.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32Bae Fern is just three years old
0:09:32 > 0:09:35and has never left the tourist camp where her mum works,
0:09:35 > 0:09:37so to make sure she stays calm on our trip,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40her aunt and uncle will also be walking her home.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42It's going to be a really big challenge,
0:09:42 > 0:09:43but I've seen the elephants now
0:09:43 > 0:09:46and we're going to change their lives forever,
0:09:46 > 0:09:47so it's going to be really amazing.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51On our trek, the adult elephants have to wear long chains.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54They don't hurt the elephants, and are used to tie them at night,
0:09:54 > 0:09:55so they don't stray too far.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00The elephants will always be with their carers, called mahouts,
0:10:00 > 0:10:03who will look after them and lead the trek.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05The head mahout is Sinch Hai,
0:10:05 > 0:10:09who is from the village that owns Thom Kam and her baby Bae Fern.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Poo, can you ask Sinch Hai how he feels about elephants?
0:10:19 > 0:10:22- TRANSLATION:- I've been with elephants since I was born.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25I have a connection with them and love them.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28It's like we're part of the same family.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32The elephants going back to the forest is like them going home.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35When you go home, you're happy.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38It will be easier to look after the elephants
0:10:38 > 0:10:40and they will have a better life.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42By working with Sinch Hai and his village,
0:10:42 > 0:10:46we can hopefully change Thom Kam and Bae Fern's lives forever.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52And it looks like the elephants can't wait to get going.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01They're off and for the next week and 83 miles,
0:11:01 > 0:11:03wherever they go, we'll follow.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09It looks really weird, like,
0:11:09 > 0:11:11four elephants just walking down the road.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15Baby Bae Fern has spent her entire life in a tourist camp.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18Her tail's, like, always, like, wagging.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21This is her first ever taste of freedom...
0:11:21 > 0:11:24ELEPHANT TRUMPETS
0:11:24 > 0:11:27..and the three-year-old sees it as a chance to eat all day long!
0:11:29 > 0:11:30She's so cute.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32She's so cute.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35She grabs a bit of everything as she walks past it.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39We're off the road.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50In the forest, there are creepy crawlies almost as big as Bae Fern!
0:11:51 > 0:11:53Just there is a massive yellow and black,
0:11:53 > 0:11:56spotty spider and, er,
0:11:56 > 0:11:59we don't know if he is poisonous or not yet,
0:11:59 > 0:12:02but he doesn't look very friendly.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05This is Bae Fern's first time in the Thai forest and she loves it.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10But we're not finding it quite as easy.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14It's really muddy from all the rain
0:12:14 > 0:12:18and it's now really open, so the sun's just coming right down on us
0:12:18 > 0:12:20and it's really, really hot.
0:12:23 > 0:12:24Big jump.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29She's not going to make it. She's not going to make it.
0:12:29 > 0:12:30She didn't make it.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32I totally did make it!
0:12:32 > 0:12:35But after eight hours of solid walking,
0:12:35 > 0:12:38it feels like we may never make it to our camp.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40We're about half an hour away, I think,
0:12:40 > 0:12:41and I really, really want to get there.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45I really hope we don't have to hang our hammocks up in the dark
0:12:45 > 0:12:47cos, I don't know about you, but I don't like doing that.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54Right now, the elephants are out in the forest
0:12:54 > 0:12:55and we're here setting up camp
0:12:55 > 0:12:58so we've got somewhere to sleep tonight.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01On the trek, we get to sleep in covered hammocks,
0:13:01 > 0:13:03which are like tents that we hang from the trees.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08It's amazing sleeping in a hammock.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11I would like to hang one up in my bedroom if I could.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13That's me done. Goodnight, everyone.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25The elephants spent the night deeper in the forest.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27They only need four hours' sleep,
0:13:27 > 0:13:29so while we carry on snoozing,
0:13:29 > 0:13:32they can munch on the tasty plants and trees.
0:13:32 > 0:13:33Morning!
0:13:34 > 0:13:37My hammock was really good and really comfy.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40I slept really well in it and I felt really safe all night.
0:13:41 > 0:13:46We've still got 68 miles left to walk and everyone is raring to go...
0:13:47 > 0:13:50..after a spot of breakfast.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52This is Bae Fern, the baby.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Bae Fern is really cute and funny when she's walking past
0:13:55 > 0:13:57and ripping trees down.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59She just can't stop eating!
0:13:59 > 0:14:01But we all need to keep up our strength.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09I think we're both a bit daunted by, like,
0:14:09 > 0:14:11the distance we have to travel.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14But the elephants have to do it too, so...
0:14:14 > 0:14:16Yeah, but they're used to walking.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Cos elephants are better walkers than people.
0:14:21 > 0:14:26They might be better walkers, but are they better swimmers?
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Bae Fern's lived her entire life in captivity
0:14:29 > 0:14:31and this is her first swim in the wild.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37That was always going to happen.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40I think she might need to practise her diving!
0:14:54 > 0:14:57Baby Bae Fern is the boss and she's telling us
0:14:57 > 0:14:58it's time to hit the road again.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10But we don't get to choose when we get wet.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15One minute, it's boiling and you're too hot
0:15:15 > 0:15:18and the next you're soaked and it's pouring with rain.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24As well as getting drenched,
0:15:24 > 0:15:27helping Bae Fern and her mum also means getting up
0:15:27 > 0:15:28at ridiculous o'clock.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31We had to get up really early
0:15:31 > 0:15:33and get as many miles in as we can
0:15:33 > 0:15:36before the sun gets up and it gets too hot.
0:15:36 > 0:15:37Even at four in the morning,
0:15:37 > 0:15:39watching the elephants swishing their tails
0:15:39 > 0:15:41is surprisingly hypnotic.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45It's amazing being up front so you can, like, watch the elephants
0:15:45 > 0:15:48and you can see that you're walking right behind them.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50They're strangely addictive, elephant bums.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52They're just really funny.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54I don't know, there's just something about them.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07We're really high above the clouds.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10Even though my legs were hurting, I didn't think we'd climbed that high,
0:16:10 > 0:16:13but it's really, really cool to just look down and see the clouds.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19All this walking is taking its toll on the baby of the group
0:16:19 > 0:16:21And I don't mean me!
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Bae Fern has only got little legs,
0:16:23 > 0:16:27so the male elephant keeps going up behind and pushing her.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31I wish you'd do that to me.
0:16:31 > 0:16:32OK, hold on.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Baby Bae Fern isn't the only one who is starting to struggle
0:16:50 > 0:16:52with walking 20 miles every day.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56I can feel a blister coming.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03Ow!
0:17:03 > 0:17:05Walking for ten hours really does take it out of you.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07My feet, they're starting to blister
0:17:07 > 0:17:10and they've gone a bit purple and bruised
0:17:10 > 0:17:12and they're generally just a bit sore and achy.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25But the big elephants make our mammoth trek look easy.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28They're getting to enjoy the forest
0:17:28 > 0:17:30and it's lovely just walking next to them
0:17:30 > 0:17:34and seeing them eating food as they go.
0:17:34 > 0:17:35I think they are enjoying it.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39It's such a different experience from the camps they used to be in.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43And after living in a tourist camp,
0:17:43 > 0:17:45this adventure is one big buffet for Bae Fern.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55Although we're helping them,
0:17:55 > 0:17:58Bae Fern and her mum are also helping me.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01When I'm hurting or tired,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04I just look at those elephants and remember why we're doing it
0:18:04 > 0:18:06and why it's so important
0:18:06 > 0:18:08and then I feel motivated to carry on.
0:18:11 > 0:18:12Fantastic news!
0:18:12 > 0:18:16We're halfway through our trek and heading higher into the mountains
0:18:16 > 0:18:20and I've found the perfect way to handle the steep hills.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25It's actually easier going up backwards.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30But the elephants are still much faster than us
0:18:30 > 0:18:32and tonight they're way ahead!
0:18:34 > 0:18:37The elephants very rudely walked on and left us,
0:18:37 > 0:18:41but they are going to spend a nice night out somewhere in the forest.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48It may not seem easy to lose three big elephants and one baby one
0:18:48 > 0:18:50but we've managed it!
0:18:51 > 0:18:55Soon after dawn, the race is on to find them and their mahouts.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58No sign of elephants yet.
0:18:58 > 0:18:59Oh, wait! Footprints!
0:19:01 > 0:19:06It looks like elephants are rubbish at playing hide and seek.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08We've seen a lot of elephant footprints,
0:19:08 > 0:19:10which hopefully means we are catching them up.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15And that has definitely been done by an elephant.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20And before long we spot another vital clue,
0:19:20 > 0:19:22poo.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25Which shows we're on the right track because we haven't seen them
0:19:25 > 0:19:27while we've been walking this morning,
0:19:27 > 0:19:30so it shows we are getting quite close.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34I think they must be quite near because it looks quite fresh.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39Look, there's the elephants, Dad.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43I think it will be easier now we're walking with them.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46It's always more fun when you're with elephants.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Being this close and walking with elephants
0:19:54 > 0:19:55will never stop being cool.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00Bae Fern is hunting for food again
0:20:00 > 0:20:02and because she's new to the forest,
0:20:02 > 0:20:06she's totally fearless about how far she stretches to get it.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10I've seen her getting very close to the edge and reaching out and stuff.
0:20:21 > 0:20:22Has Bae Fern fallen?
0:20:22 > 0:20:24That's a steep fall.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29We can't see Bae Fern in the dense undergrowth
0:20:29 > 0:20:31and we don't know if she's hurt.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Her mum, Thom Kam, is getting more and more upset.
0:20:47 > 0:20:48Thom Kam is going down.
0:20:50 > 0:20:51It's really scary.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53I hope Bae Fern, the baby elephant, is OK.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59Thom Kam can't wait to find her little girl
0:20:59 > 0:21:03because falling can seriously injure baby elephants.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09She was roaring and she was desperate to get to Bae Fern
0:21:09 > 0:21:11and now they're both down there.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23Finally, she's made it!
0:21:23 > 0:21:24CHEERING
0:21:26 > 0:21:28Her mum pushed her to safety
0:21:28 > 0:21:31and, thankfully, she's not been injured.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37And after a quick scratch, brave little Bae Fern carries on trekking.
0:21:38 > 0:21:43That was quite scary but Bae Fern's not hurt or anything so,
0:21:43 > 0:21:44I'm quite relieved.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49I'm not trusting the edges any more.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53I know elephants are a lot heavier, but even so,
0:21:53 > 0:21:54I'm not taking any chances.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59Bae Fern is definitely on top form again.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01She's all over the place, still running around.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08She is just as mad and crazy as before.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20As well as walking 83 miles,
0:22:20 > 0:22:23the road is getting steeper and steeper.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26We're higher than Ben Nevis in Scotland!
0:22:27 > 0:22:28It's a long way down.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33Just don't tell Bae Fern or she'll be skidding down it again.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37Now we're so high up in the mountains,
0:22:37 > 0:22:40we catch our first glimpse of the village we're trekking to.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45- See the white mast?- Yeah, yeah, yeah.- See the white mast?
0:22:45 > 0:22:47There, look. That's Huay Pakkoot.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49It means we're nearly there.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Seeing Thom Kam and Bae Fern's village is so inspiring!
0:22:57 > 0:23:00This is truly a dream come true.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02I've always wanted to help elephants
0:23:02 > 0:23:07and now I'm finally getting to do it, it's just,
0:23:07 > 0:23:09it's just unreal.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12To know that you're taking them away from the life
0:23:12 > 0:23:15where they have to do shows or carry people around all day
0:23:15 > 0:23:18and taking them to a place where they can just be free
0:23:18 > 0:23:20is really cool.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23We've done so much walking
0:23:23 > 0:23:25that we're actually going to arrive tomorrow,
0:23:25 > 0:23:27a day earlier than planned!
0:23:29 > 0:23:33Morning, Joe, are you awake? Yeah?
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Today is the day we get to the village.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47It's really hard to see how happy I am right now
0:23:47 > 0:23:49cos I'm so tired.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51It's, like, 5.30 or something ridiculous.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53We are almost there.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04We've still got another 6k to walk,
0:24:04 > 0:24:07but that feels like nothing compared to what we've already done.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14Walking alongside a baby elephant like this
0:24:14 > 0:24:19is just, like, the most special experience you can have, really.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21We've almost finished our sponsored walk
0:24:21 > 0:24:24and we've raised enough money for Huay Pakkoot to look after Thom Kam
0:24:24 > 0:24:27and little Bae Fern here in the forest,
0:24:27 > 0:24:29instead of them having to earn money
0:24:29 > 0:24:31working in the tourist camp in Chiang Mai.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34- OK, we're nearly here!- Woo!
0:24:36 > 0:24:40Look! Look! Look! We can stop walking!!
0:24:40 > 0:24:41Woo-hoo! High five!
0:24:47 > 0:24:50At the village, we meet another special little elephant
0:24:50 > 0:24:51who also needs our help.
0:24:54 > 0:24:56This is Mario.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59He's little boy who already lives here
0:24:59 > 0:25:02and he's the third elephant we're going to be supporting.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07He seems to be getting along really well with Bae Fern and Thom Kam,
0:25:07 > 0:25:12which is important cos she'll be like a mother to him.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Cos they'll all be staying in a big herd.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20The new elephant family is off to get to know each other
0:25:20 > 0:25:22in their new forest home.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Tomorrow, we'll visit them to say goodbye,
0:25:26 > 0:25:31but today we've been invited to hang out in the village and it's awesome!
0:25:31 > 0:25:34We've been in the village watching weaving, basket making.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37We've been foraging for vegetables in the crop fields.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43It's a really interesting culture
0:25:43 > 0:25:46and I'd love to spend more time here and learn more about it.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49I think I could get used to life here. I really like it.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52So, would you miss your Xbox? Your laptop?
0:25:52 > 0:25:56Yeah, but, like, it's still a cool way to live, like...
0:25:56 > 0:25:59Yeah, it is, and the views are much better over here.
0:26:02 > 0:26:03It was a welcome and thank you
0:26:03 > 0:26:07for bringing the elephants from the camps back to their village.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10They say that the elephants are part of their family,
0:26:10 > 0:26:12so we're bringing their family back to them
0:26:12 > 0:26:14so they were really grateful.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17It was really overwhelming and amazing to take part in this.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22Each of the elders put a different string around our wrist
0:26:22 > 0:26:25and, like, blessed it and everything.
0:26:25 > 0:26:26It was a really nice evening.
0:26:39 > 0:26:44In seven long days, we've walked our elephants for 83 miles
0:26:44 > 0:26:46to bring them home to their village
0:26:46 > 0:26:48and before we leave Thailand,
0:26:48 > 0:26:51we're going into the forest one final time,
0:26:51 > 0:26:53to say a very important goodbye.
0:26:57 > 0:27:03I am sad to say goodbye but I know the forest is where they belong.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08It makes me feel so, so happy to see the elephants like this.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15To see them back in the forest, back in their home,
0:27:15 > 0:27:17it just makes me tingle.
0:27:17 > 0:27:18I feel so happy.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23There are still 4,000 elephants captive in Thailand,
0:27:23 > 0:27:27but for these individuals, we've changed their lives completely
0:27:27 > 0:27:29and they're now free.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37It just makes me feel like, mission accomplished!