Let me set the scene: Not long after the attack on Pearl HarÂbor, Japan invadÂed BurÂma, a “backÂwaÂter of the British Empire,” hopÂing to put the ChiÂnese and British at a strateÂgic disÂadÂvanÂtage. (Get more details here.) IniÂtialÂly the JapanÂese camÂpaign met with sucÂcess, and, in earÂly 1942, the British and local allies beat a retreat, tryÂing to escape over the borÂder to India. But when they reached the borÂder, they found rivers, floodÂed by monÂsoons, blockÂing their way. That’s when a British tea planter named Gyles MackÂrell stepped in and moved 200 refugees across the borÂder using the only means availÂable to them — eleÂphants. This amazÂing stoÂry is now being told for the first time, thanks to the CenÂtre of South Asian StudÂies at the UniÂverÂsiÂty of CamÂbridge and its short film (13 minÂutes) shown above. You can read more about the great eleÂphant escape here.