Surin Elephant Round Up, Thailand
Posted by Jackie Hewett on Tue 23rd September 2008 at 03:09 AM, Filed in Far East, November
This show has been going since 1960 in the Ban Ta Klang Elephant Village in the Surin province (about 450 km from Bangkik), and is organised by the Thai tourist authority. In 2008 it falls on 22nd and 23rd November.
Throughout history elephants have been well respected in Thailand and held as a symbol of power and grace. Today most Thai elephant owners and mahouts are descendents of the Kui tribe who originated from Cambodia and settled in north east Thailand. They are famed for their expertise in capturing, domesticating and training wild elephants and treat these large mammals as part of heir family.
The show (on both days) consists of 6, well documented acts or scenes, depicting the ‘story’ of taming elephants from showing them in simulated natural surroundings through training, traditions and everyday life, to their role in ancient warfare (can be quite a spectacle) and a finale.
Hundreds of elephants gather in Surin and in addition to the show there are the following events:
• Baby show – where baby elephants are paraded with their mothers and a prize for the best looking
• Elephant football – yes really! But the ball is about 2 feet in diameter and the teams are 5-a-side. Naturally the referee usually sits on the largest elephant – but can be prone to joining in the fun
• Elephant races – seems tame after football doesn’t it?!
• Displays of elephants at work – picking up all sorts of objects
• Elephant tug of war
• Elephant Contest – to promote better understanding of elephant psychology and key characteristics of well bred elephants
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