2008 KING’S CUP ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT

Thailand’s highly popular King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament returns to the hill in 2008. Event organizer Anantara Resorts announced that the 2008 tournament will take place from March 31st to April 6th in the northen-most region of the country known as the Golden Triangle.

To date the tournament has raised over us$175,000 for the National Elephant Institute, which provides medical care, sustenance, employment, welfare and mahout training to Thailand’s elephant population. It is estimated that Thailand has around 2500 domesticated elephants and 1500 wild elephants. This is down from an elephant population of around 50,000 in 1950 and 100,000 in 1900.

The rules are similar to those of horse polo, however there are some key differences which should be noted. All elephants carry a player and a mahout, ladies are allowed to use both hands and mallets of around two meters in length are used. Any team with 3 elephants in one half of the pitch is judged to have committed a foul. No elephants may lie down in front of goal mouth. To do so will constitute a foul. An elephant may not pick up the ball in its trunk during play. To do so constitutes a foul.

Sugar cane or rice balls packed with vitamins (molasses and rock salt) shall be given to elephants at the end of each match and a cold beer, or soft drink, to the elephant drivers.

The heath and welfare of the elephants used in T.E.P.A. tournaments is of prime concern, abuse of elephant is considered to be the most serious offence.

Fun Facts

• Elephants in this tournament only respond to Thai commands from their mahouts. And there is no Thai player in the tournament.
• The first elephant polo games were played with a soccer ball. These were quickly changed to standard polo balls after it was realized the elephants liked to stamp and pop the soccer balls!