Remembering Romsai, the Bull Elephant

I had the privilege to know Romsai, a near-blind bull elephant, for 10 years.
When first introduced to Romsai I was told to keep a distance because he was powerful and dangerous. Only one person, his mahout, could go near him. Amongst all the elephants at Elephants World, Romsai had the most fearsome reputation.
I discovered Romsai, a former logging and abused elephant, had a gentle side and liked slow classical piano and as the years went by he let me get close to him in both senses of the word.
Here are the last few evenings with Romsai before he passed away of old age.

[@nalasimba]

Farewell Romsai. Rest in Peace. So sorry for what you were made to endure by greedy, thoughtless people. At least, kind Paul made your last days bearable. Thank you Paul.

[@gingerandcloves]

Beautiful tribute to a majestic animal. I'm glad his final years were peaceful and free.

[@LCLW63]

I'm glad to know the last years of Romsai's hard life were spent enjoying them. And thank you Paul for your service to the Elephants.

[@sarahwestling9438]

He's hearing slow classical music all the time now. Bless him and you, Paul.

[@seashell64b59]

Rest in peace sweet gentle giant, bless you for giving him some much needed TLC

[@mickiejonesy1712]

You can see in the video how very much he loved music. His movements like dancing. I am so sorry he passed away. What an incredible relationship you had with him. How beautiful! 😌💓

[@afrogirl757]

So thankful that his last years on this earth Romsai was treated with love and dignity. I enjoyed watching your times with him for the past few years and with tears in my eyes I wish him well on his journey over the rainbow bridge. RIP

[@ronaldseale]

God Bless you, Paul. I'm sorry to see such a beautiful animal pass. I can feel that you gave him much comfort in his final years. Take care

[@megswedeb7234]

I really broke down on this one. Due to thinking about the comfort and joy you gave to him in his last years and all that you are giving to all of the elephants there. He is resting in peace now. Thank you, Paul.

[@cherylross2718]

He went from hell, to tranquility, forever love and peace. Thanks to all who gave him the years of life, security and tranquility he deserved. ❤

[@zeezemanski1871]

Tears, just thinking about this beautiful elephant.

[@shentharo]

You are a great person Paul.

[@tammymccaslin4787]

Rest In Peace, Sweet Romsai. I’m so glad you knew happiness and music before you passed.

[@uppityglivestockian]

Thank you Barton, the first piece selected is quite apt. O mio bambino caro, from the Puccini opera Gianni Schichi. It's the little things....

[@miwir1248]

What a beautifully done video. RIP dear Romsai. Blessings to you for giving him the gift of music!

[@petmom1967]

Lovely tribute. Paul, you were his hospice angel on earth. What a gift for you both. RIP Romsai

[@FullMoon7]

Rest in Peace sweet elephant

[@stephaniebalducci6248]

Thank you for making his last years good years. 💜🤎💚🖤❤ And yes.. I cried watching this 💔

[@fionwynwyldemane1125]

RIP Romsai. You were a beauty in a trying world. May you never be forgotten 🙏 ❤

[@dezzi03]

This is one of the best videos I’ve ever watched. So beautiful

[@ackamack101]

You rock, sir. I only wish I could have been there with you. 🐘 🎹 ❤️

[@joannekaczan6615]

ROMSAI LOVED your music!! THANK YOU for playing to him!! RIP dear ROMSAI!! Thank You, PAUL!!!

[@RonnieD1970]

This is brutal. I miss him and don't even know him :(

[@annm4833]

It's so obvious Romsai enjoys the music and it reaches him. And he enjoys company of a kind friend. Humans should be ashamed of their treatment of elephants, thank you Paul for helping Romsai see than there are kind people who care. I hope he gets to listen to all the music he wants to now. Rest In Peace 🐘💕

[@sau_of_lkwd]

im sure romsai is having a blast in elephant heaven

[@janesmith5422]

🥰

[@JessieMouse8]

Rest easy sweet angel❤️

[@missbee7745]

Oh, How I Love GOD's Creation, So Very Much! "The Elephant" such A Beautiful, Magnificent, Intelligent & Loving Creature that Humans Could Learn So Much from Them!! I Only Wish That Romsai, Could've Spent His Entire Life with All of You, Being Protected!! When Will The Abuse Stop??? 🐘💞🐘💞🐘💞🐘💞🐘💞🐘

[@singinggrass187]

Bless dear Romsai, and bless you fir the comfort you brought him in the final days of his difficult life. 💞

[@Smilodon1985]

Thank you, Paul, forgiving Romsai and all of his brothers and sisters the gift of beauty and peace - and love - to calm their tormented souls. Your work is a balm for the tormented souls of so many humans who need the same gifts out in the wider world... Thank you.

[@wormtape106]

goodbye Romsai

[@sonjamuller2846]

Tolle Idee und wunderschöne Melodie. Den Elefanten freut es und uns auch!!👍🤗💛🍀

[@LilyAlcee]

Goodbye Romsai ♥️ I'm glad he had you in his life

[@CrystalBrightz]

My condolences. Rest in peace.

[@spiderliliez]

When they say "Elephants never forget." It pains me to think he can never forget his abusers, his traumas and all. But it is a relief that before the end of his life, we was hopefully just enjoying recent happy memories.

[@earthcat]

🕯Good Journey Romsai. I will remember you with 💖

[@wernerbroij7747]

Good bye Romsai. Thank you Paul!

[@viggycat8592]

I can't watch because I know I'll cry! What an angel!❤️❤️🐘🐘❤️❤️

[@megswedeb7234]

I can verify for you this is true. I totally broke down watching this one. Brutal! 😢

[@robbymitchell805]

I shouldn't have watched but I did. And yes I cried my heart out. And yes he was an angel. 😧

[@llamasugar5478]

Thank you, Paul for blessing his heart with your music. Rest easy, Romsai.

[@EasyEarPiano]

Was Romsai kicking his heels and swaying in time to the music at the beginning? Beautiful!

[@karenj4854]

I'm so sorry for your loss. You did a great thing for him, though. What a beautiful tribute!

[@ultimopena]

The piece beginning at 2:30 is honestly haunting. It's a bittersweet, sort of longing sound.

[@JAM_2024]

Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for this. He died happy a bull.

[@billiamc1969]

We should be saving all these remarkable creatures from ourselves...such a marvelous animal that clearly loved dancing to the music...may Paul become a saint for providing these elephants with such wonderful music and love...Peace from Baltimore

[@tamikoestomo3275]

Romsai was clearly so pleased to receive loving attention. God bless him, and God bless you, Paul, for your kind compassion.

[@CherylBerryl]

May this beautiful & majestic soul rest in peace. Thank you Paul for bringing love & joy into his life. You could really see & feel the comfort your music brought him. He was well loved...and that's Everything! 💖💞🐘💞💖

[@beethovensg]

Thank you Maestro Paul.

[@Juelda]

It is so very hard to lose a friend. Thank you Mr. Barton for sharing some of your time with Romsai with us. May the joy you broght him give you comfort.

[@crismendoza7206]

Thank you Paul. Rest well Romsai.

[@keith2092]

You make a difference, Paul. I will miss Romsai and remember him flapping his ears, enjoying the music.

[@deettekearns9092]

RIP, sweet thing. Thank you for the video.

[@loganwendigo937]

What a majestic giant, Rest In Peace Romsai and God bless you Paul

[@jmack619]

Thank you Paul for what you do. Sweet animal

[@murdo_mck]

My condolences.

[@user-vf3lx9ix3e]

This is so beautiful. I lost my 88year old mom in December, and I can't help think of the similarities. Her hard and unfair life, but a loving end, especially the poignant gentle music that brought her comfort and peace. I miss you so much mommy.

[@mortalclown3812]

I'm sorry for your loss. My elderly Mom has been fighting Covid-19 and I'm trying to pay attention to all the moments. May angels hold you near.

[@user-vf3lx9ix3e]

@@mortalclown3812 Thank you kind person. I hope you and everyone can tell her how much she is loved, give her reason to fight as long as possible. Because every minute you have left with her you will cherish forever.

[@virginiatyree6705]

2 5 21 May your Mummy RIP. v

[@sarahashliparrish9535]

I’m sorry for your loss. 💛

[@streetcarp475]

Bless everyone who gave him love and peace in his final years ❤

[@Lia-oh4kz]

What a beautiful video. Thanks for sharing. We will remember Romsai.

[@DaynaKent]

[@isawa6649]

Beautiful tribute. Thank you

[@brokenwindowspchelp]

It is wonderful what you do for them. Thank you for loving and caring for them. God bless you, your family and your family of elephants.

[@donnagilligan2905]

Thank you Paul for sharing your last concert with one of your favorite elephants with beautiful soothing music.

[@darrylholtman2601]

Rest easy big guy. Thank you for allowing him to live his days in peace.

[@CarolLynnWilliams]

Dear Romsai 😪🐘❤ Music soothed the damaged soul. How wonderful that he trusted Paul to be his friend !!!

[@mortalclown3812]

Oh, Paul, I do believe the dear old boy was in the Zone with you. ☺️🐘💙 Thank you for all you do and for sharing the truth of Romsai and the other animals. May extra angels of comfort find you.

[@maryanneappel3729]

our heartfelt condolences your shared gift was our gift to watch a touching life moments thank you for including everyone your kindness is humbling

[@hiromi20108]

Es usted encantador Paul, gracias por tanto amor 😘🙏🏻💖🌹💕

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

My deepest, heartfelt condolences to you and all who loved him. 💔 I hope you can all take comfort in knowing you made his last years ones without pain & fear, and filled with love & peace, and of course, with music. That he loved the music could not be any clearer than by the facts that he opened up his hard-earned trust to you, and on watching him swaying to the music, calmly reacting to it, then stopping the moment the piece came to an end - I don't _want_ to anthropomorphize by saying he was disappointed (perhaps it was just a "sounds stop, I stop" reaction), but by god it's *really, really hard* to _not_ see disappointment in him for a few moments, followed by a "oh well, it always comes back". I know that everyone at the sanctuary will be broken hearted, but when you can, remember that he outlived most zoo-bred eles by about 10 years, and they have the easiest lives! When the pain starts to recede, remember the fun and loving times, and take pride in the fact that you could tame the "troublesome" ele with a pretty tune. 🐘 🎹🎶 💕

[@SnarkNSass]

😢💖 You bring such beauty and love to these. Thank you.

[@dmswan3172]

Beautiful, heartfelt tribute to a beautiful soul!🌹

[@mohamed-dawod]

Great ❤️

[@dorenecollins4990]

I thank you so much for caring for these animals. God has given you a special gift

[@niklas2heat79]

This was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. He had a hard life but with an happy ending, and deserves to rest now. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for sharing such precious moments with us.

[@carolynnunes3922]

Beautiful! Thank you, Paul!

[@Reismiilch]

Ah yes, getting emotional in the morning

[@tamikoestomo3275]

Thank you, Paul, for providing Romsai with the compassion and love he so much needed. God bless him, and God bless you.

[@rogue1303]

Thank you for sharing these moments.

[@bluemoonsupernova-f9f]

This video touched me a lot 😣

[@jonathan4055]

Thanks for giving so much to such great creatures.

[@mudkip_btw]

I'm glad he had people taking care of him. Thank you for sharing Paul

[@NateGerardRealEstateTeam]

As I age it’s become increasingly clear how much we’re all connected including our friends in the animal world. I’m so grateful for what you’re doing Paul and thank you for sharing this touching tribute to Romsai.

[@davidwebb091370]

you are in elephant heaven now, Romsai ... everything is good.

[@jeanmorris6601]

Elephants are truly beautiful and wonderful, as you are too Paul 💚🌱

[@juliebethramsdell6332]

thank you ❤ for helping heal the world with your kindness to him. so grateful.

[@roybarron5289]

RIP Romsai you touched the world with your plight

[@happyfacesmilesunshine4275]

REST NOW. BYE.. BIG BOY. SEE YOU IN HEAVEN. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS OF BIG BOY. . LOVE. LUCY. PLEASE LIVE ELEPHANTS. HUGS .

[@PaulaSand]

I am crying! God bless you Paul!

[@d6h597]

Beautiful 🥲thank you Paul

[@lunkis3233]

Beautiful looked like he was dancing ❤️ 🙏 R I P Romsai ❤️

[@R.Lennartz]

It's wonderful that he got to live his last years in a place where people cared for him, even played him music, RIP.

[@lorenacaboni4121]

Riposa in pace, meravigliosa creatura innocente. Grazie, Paul,per quanto hai fatto per rendere l'ultimo periodo della sua vita dignitoso e pieno d'amore. Spero tu stia bene, Paul, la tristezza è grande. Ti abbraccio forte con amore❤

[@PaulaSand]

Impressive! The Elephant kneeled at the end!

[@stephenromey6348]

What a beautiful being. Thank you Romsai for bringing love and beauty into our world. I am truly sorry for the distress that thoughtless humans have caused you!

[@DONIZZOTTI]

Parabéns Sr. Paul... Belíssimo trabalho...❤️🐘❤️🔝💯🇧🇷

[@barbaradoolin5499]

RIP 😢

[@katarinamoscow2042]

Волшебная музыка! Танцующий слон - это тоже волшебство!💥👏🏻💐

[@georginapaul5598]

He is swaying to the music 💕

[@micmarkno]

Farewell Romsai! I seems he could enjoy the last years of his life and that's very nice to know! Rest in Peace Romsai!

[@vetworker3]

Bless your heart for giving Romsai some peaceful and happy moments enjoying your beautiful music. Rest in Peace beautiful Romsai.

[@msuehale]

Bless his heart. May you rest in peace. ❤❤

[@Squiffilect]

So expressive... A wonderful soul.

[@silverr_moons]

Rip sweet giant 🙏🐘❤️ I even cried at the end... beautiful video 🤍 thank you 🙏