HUA NIN, THAILAND, September 18, 2002: Top-ranked polo players have converged on this sleepy resort town southwest of Bangkok, swapping their horses for elephants in a tournament aimed at raising awareness of the plight of the endangered animals. Ten teams are competing in the five-day tournament for the King’s Cup. The game of elephant polo — versions of which were played in the jungles of Asia during the years when they were used for logging, transport, even as battle warriors — was yanked from the dustbin of history in 1982 by a pair of unlikely proponents of the game. Thailand has joined the ranks of the steadily expanding international tour, which some players here said they want to see grow into a genuine league. The game pits two three-a-side teams of pachyderm, player and perhaps the most important ingredient, the mahout, who translates the will of the player to the animal. While far slower than the equine version of the game, the players are intrigued by the elephant’s intelligence, and their seemingly intuitive play on the pitch. Despite the sporting appeal, those involved say that increasing awareness of the Asian elephant is a crucial aspect of the tournament. US$16,300 is expected to be raised for elephant conservation efforts in northern Thailand during the event.
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