Über Ponys Ziehen, Hier Kommt Elefanten-Polo

Im März (10.-13. März) findet eine ungewöhnliche Polo-Veranstaltung statt, bei der Spenden für Elefanten in Thailand gesammelt werden.

Das King's Cup Elefanten-Polo-Turnier, das jetzt in seinem 14. Jahr stattfindet, am Ufer des Chaophraya-Flusses in Bangkok stattfindet.

the charity tournament has raised almost us$1m (£701, 629) for projects that improve the lives of thailand’s wild and domesticated elephants.

“the four-day festival will have something for everyone, including an impressive opening parade, children’s educational day, ladies day known as the ‘bangkok ascot’ and a wide range of fun elephant related activities for the whole family,” said a spokesman for the event.

the 2016 event will have 10 teams encompassing over 40 players, including thai celebrities, professional polo players and new zealand all blacks rugby players, as well as thailand’s transgender cabaret team miss tiffany.

18 elephants will take part in the tournament. this includes elephants from tourist trekking camps in pattaya and domesticated elephants out of work in surin.

in some camps elephants work 10 – 12 hours a day, or if kept at home “unemployed”, they can be left isolated from other elephants with no exercise. their owners are often unable to afford to feed them sufficiently and shade and water can be overlooked.