ELEPHANT POLO
CHAMPIONSHIPS
- NEPAL -
G'day folks,
Nepal used to host the World Elephant Polo Championships, and did so since 1982.
These four-ton athletes are highly trained,
well-kept polo machines. No more than two games are played per day, and
no player is allowed to play those two games in a row. Games end at
noon, and snacks and beverages are served at half-time—fresh cut grass
and about 22 gallons of water. Daily baths in the river keep the
competitors refreshed and clean.
Since 1982, Tiger Tops has been hosting the World Elephant Polo
Championships in Nepal, as well as serving as headquarters for the
exotic variation on the popular sport. Fairly self-explanatory, the game
consists of the basic polo guidelines with a few necessary changes to
accommodate the size of the player’s mounts—a six-to-10-foot cane with a
standard mallet head on the end, a pitch shortened to 3/4 the length to
make up for the elephant’s lack of speed, and each elephant carries two
riders who must rely on a mahout to do the steering as they shout out
directions.
Along with the altered guidelines come elephant-specific rules that
must be put into play. An elephant who lies down in front of the goal
mouth will receive a foul, and if they use their trunk to pick up the
ball, that not only constitutes a foul, but earns their opponent a free
hit. Rice balls enhanced with molasses and rock salt act as treats at
the end of each match while riders are rewarded with a beer, and all
games end by noon to avoid the afternoon heat.
While there’s debate on whether these amazing animals should be used
for sport at all, the World Elephant Polo Association (WEPA) keeps
strict guidelines regarding the safety and well being of the elephants.
PETA has targeted the sport, costing the organizations sponsorship
withdrawals and the occasional match cancellation, and safety was put
into question when two players were injured and the minibus of one of
the visiting teams was destroyed when an elephant went on a rampage in
2007. Despite the controversy and criticism, Tiger Tops and WEPA
maintain that their animals are happy, healthy, and enjoy the
opportunity for social interaction and the break from their normal
routine of giving safari rides to tourists.
The tournament takes place every December on the edge of Chitwan
National Park, and include 16 domesticated Asian elephants, half of them
belonging to Tiger Tops and the others brought in by Nepal National
Parks. The elephants are accompanied by their mahouts, who usually have
been partnered with the animals for several years.
Clancy's comment: I wish I'd seen these when they existed.
I'm ...
