An elephant has been filmed playing harmonica at a rejuvenation camp for temple elephants near South Indian city of Coimbatore.

A video shows a mahut handing over a harmonica to an elephant named Andaal, which holds it deftly with its trunk, and plays a few melodious notes swaying its head.

Coimbatore is hosting a 48-day elephant rejuvenation camp, which concludes on February 20. Thirty-three elephants, including Andal, are being rested and nourished on a special diet consisting of fruits, jaggery (coarse brown sugar) and other delicacies.

Researchers at University of Kansas have shown that elephants have the ability to distinguish basic melodies.

An elephant has been filmed playing harmonica at a rejuvenation camp for temple elephants near South Indian city of Coimbatore.

A video shows a mahut handing over a harmonica to an elephant named Andaal, which holds it deftly with its trunk, and plays a few melodious notes swaying its head.

Coimbatore is hosting a 48-day elephant rejuvenation camp, which concludes on February 20. Thirty-three elephants, including Andal, are being rested and nourished on a special diet consisting of fruits, jaggery and other delicacies.

Researchers at University of Kansas have shown that elephants have the ability to distinguish basic melodies.

A noted musician Dave Soldier who has trained elephants in Thailand to play music, believes that elephants can use instruments consciously, improvise tunes and enjoy them as well.

He had told BBC that elephants learnt to play in different ways. "They learn where the sweet spot on the instrument is, but no-one has taught them how,” he had noted.