Fwd: Elephant polo match returns to the Golden Triangle

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Aug 8, 2007 8:47 PM

Elephant polo match returns to the Golden Triangle

journalistandanimals, azam24x7

 

http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1121085.php?mpnlog=1

 

 

 

07 August, 2007

 

Elephant polo match returns to the Golden Triangle

 

 

Thailand's highly popular King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament returns

to the hills in 2008. Event organiser Anantara Resorts announced that the

2008 tournament would take place from March 31 to April 6 in the

northern-most region of the country known as the Golden Triangle.

 

To officially launch the tournament, Anantara Resorts will host a

kick-off match in Bangkok on September 21, 2007. The event is open to the

public and an afternoon of celebrities, seasoned elephant polo players,

colourful parades and pachyderms will provide a taste of the excitement to

come!

 

Or one of the games founding fathers, Jim Edwards of 'Tiger Tops

Jungle Lodge' in Nepal puts it: " Elephants polo is like playing golf from

the back of a slow - moving Range Rover. " It should be pointed out that the

World Wildlife Fund has declared that this sport poses no threat to the

elephants participating in the games.

 

This popular event, ranked as the 6th largest event on the Thai

tourism calendar was introduced to Thailand in 2001 and is a charitable

event that raises money for the country's National Elephant Institute in

Lampang, Northern Thailand. Hosting the event in the far North ensures that

the international spotlight is focused onto a very unique and special part

of Thailand, showcasing the beauty of the natural landscape of the Golden

Triangle region - the natural home of elephants.

 

Through its own Elephant Camp located within the grounds of the

Anantara Resort Golden Triangle, the property's focus on the future of

Thailand's pachyderm population and forms an integral part of the resort's

operations. On an on-going basis, resident Director of Elephants, John

Roberts, works closely with the Thai government's Elephant Conservation

Centre in Lampang to develop Anantara's camp as an elephant sanctuary. The

funds raised from the 2006 tournament are being used to custom-build an

elephant-sized ambulance which will be donated to the National Elephant

Institute.

 

Anantara Resort Golden Triangle is located 60km north of Chiang Rai's

international airport. For enquiries and reservations, please call + 66 (0)

5378 4084 or + 66 (0) 2 477 0760 or email infogt. For more

information visit www.anantara.com