Many people often ask me why I walk barefoot when I’m with the elephants. The truth is, it’s not just a choice—it’s because the elephants, especially Thong Ae, don’t allow me to wear shoes. Every time she sees me, she walks straight over and pulls off at least one of my shoes, insisting that my feet touch the ground. Sometimes, she even removes both shoes—and if I’m wearing socks, she pulls those off too, leaving me completely barefoot. At first, I was surprised and puzzled. Why didn’t she want