JON ROSSI, a professional drummer and wildlife enthusiast, hosts the nature and conservation podcast Rossifari Podcast. He interviews experts from zoos, aquariums, and animal rescue centers, offering fascinating insights into the world of animal care. He recently posted a video on TikTok of a rescued elephant named Emily playing drums, which brought smiles to many faces.
The video shows the curious elephant interacting with Jon, who is standing on the other side of the fence with drumsticks in his hands. At one point, the person behind the camera says, “I think she wants your stick.” Jon hands her the stick, and Emily’s first attempt at playing the drums becomes an internet hit.
Emily very politely handed the baton back to Jon after her short performance. It was amazing to watch him listen intently as he played, then try to imitate the sound by hitting the drum with his trunk. It was a unique experience for him and for all the visitors who witnessed this moment.
Emily the elephant’s videos have become a hit on TikTok, where they’ve garnered millions of views and countless comments. “It’s so cute how she put the stick back! It really shows how attentive she is and how she understands how people use their hands,” wrote one commenter.
Another joked: “Please don’t do that, it’s dangerous. The elephant could learn to play, then become a famous drummer and start ignoring her fans.” This was followed by another comment that summed up the thoughts of many: “That’s it, I’m getting an elephant.”
Do elephants like music?
Many viewers have wondered in the comments whether elephants really enjoy music as much as humans. According to PetHelpful, musician Paul Barton has proven that the answer is yes. He plays piano for elephants at Elephants World sanctuary in Thailand, and in an interview with The Guardian in 2023, he shared his experiences. He confirmed that animals enjoy music, especially classical music.
“Getting the piano into the wild was a challenge. The sanctuary is located on the banks of the River Kwai, so we transported it by pickup truck. We placed it in a field where elephants gather to eat breakfast. It’s a peaceful area that is not disturbed by visitors,” he said.
His fear that playing might disturb the elephants quickly vanished. “As soon as I started playing, one elephant, who was blind, stopped eating and started listening. We realized that this elephant, trapped in a world of darkness, loved music. From that day on, there was never a worry about disturbing their peace again,” said Barton, whose YouTube channel now has almost 700,000 subscribers.
“Their breathing actually slows down when you play, which tells me they are relaxed and happy. There was one elephant that would leave if I played Schubert, but would stay for hours for Beethoven. Some elephants looked like they were dancing to Beethoven,” he concluded, describing the incredible gift he gives these highly intelligent animals.
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