300 trunks, 600 flapping ears and 132 legs on a football pitch… Yesterday the annual elephant festival took place in Surin, Thailand. More than 300 elephants and their handlers attended the event, the highlights of which included an 11-a-side football match and darts throwing competition.
Elephant fans can check out video footage of the animals’ football skills here.
Since logging was banned in Thailand in 1989 the country’s elephant handlers, or “mahouts”, have been forced into training their statuesque friends to perform tricks for tourists. The elephant festival is an important annual event for them both in terms of income and as a reunion / homecoming.
Other highlights on the elephant event calendar include:
February 2008
Elephant Polo Tournament, Sri Lanka
March 2008
Elephant Festival, Jaipur, India
Paripally Gajamela, Elephant Pagent, India
April 2008
- Elephant Races, Don Village, Vietnam
September 2008
- Ganesh Festival, Pune, India (ok, so it not elephants per se, but a celebration for the elephant-headed god)
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