Elephant polo tournament kicked off in Thailand (video)
The 12th annual elephant polo tournament kicked off in the Thai seaside resort of Hua Hin, south of Bangkok, on August 28, 2013 and will run until September 1. More than 50 elephants and international teams, among them a team of Thailand’s famous transgender “ladyboys”, or katoeys, take part in the tournament.
The 1st day started with monks blessing the elephants by spraying them with water, followed by several polo matches and a fruit buffet as a treat for the sporty elephants. The King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament is an annual charity raises funds to help with elephant’s welfare.
A team of former New Zealand All Blacks defeated the ladyboy team in a friendly ahead of the main tournament.
The 4-day festival has a number of attractions, including a spectacular opening parade, a baby elephant camp and a ladies fashion day. The festival has become something of a glittering affair, and it is attended by both Asian and European royalty, local celebrities and a number of international sports stars.
Over the past 12 years, the tournament has raised approximately $600,000, which has provided the funding for a number of projects, including shelters for elephants, mobile blood facilities and an elephant ambulance for the Thai Elephant Conservation Center.
The 12th annual elephant polo tournament kicked off in the Thai seaside resort of Hua Hin, south of Bangkok, on August 28, 2013 and will run until September 1. More than 50 elephants and international teams, among them a team of Thailand's famous transgender "ladyboys", or katoeys, take part in the tournament. The 1st day started with monks blessing the elephants by spraying them with water, followed by several polo matches and a fruit buffet as a treat for the sporty elephants. The King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament is an annual charity raises funds to help with elephant's welfare. A...
The 12th annual elephant polo tournament kicked off in the Thai seaside resort of Hua Hin, south of Bangkok, on August 28, 2013 and will run until September 1. More than 50 elephants and international teams, among them a team of Thailand’s famous transgender “ladyboys”, or katoeys, take part in the tournament.
The 1st day started with monks blessing the elephants by spraying them with water, followed by several polo matches and a fruit buffet as a treat for the sporty elephants. The King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament is an annual charity raises funds to help with elephant’s welfare.
A team of former New Zealand All Blacks defeated the ladyboy team in a friendly ahead of the main tournament.
The 4-day festival has a number of attractions, including a spectacular opening parade, a baby elephant camp and a ladies fashion day. The festival has become something of a glittering affair, and it is attended by both Asian and European royalty, local celebrities and a number of international sports stars.
Over the past 12 years, the tournament has raised approximately $600,000, which has provided the funding for a number of projects, including shelters for elephants, mobile blood facilities and an elephant ambulance for the Thai Elephant Conservation Center.
