Mammoth meets miniature in Elephant Race event
Purchase this article for republication
Buy SPH photosA selection of photos and a video from the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu which was held from Dec 26 to Dec 28, 2012.
Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event which involved elephants playing an exhibition soccer match and taking part in various other sporting activities.
(TRANSCRIPT): The World Cup it's not, but these elephants still know how to score.
Players enthralled crowds in Nepal's ninth international Elephant Festival soccer final - and even though the animals have riders, the skilled footwork is all theirs says one of the teams' sponsors.
-
Judges look at an adorned elephant during an elephant beauty contest at the Elephant Race event in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 27, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
A mahout climbs his elephant as he heads towards the Chitwan National Park at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 28, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
A donkey cart races to the finishing line during the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 27, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
A tika is pictured on the forehead of an adorned elephant during an elephant beauty contest at the Elephant Race event in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 27, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
A mahout displays his adorned elephant during an elephant beauty contest at the Elephant Race event in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 27, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
Elephants run to the finish line during the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 27, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
Elephants play an exhibition soccer match during the final day of the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 28, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event which involved elephants playing an exhibition soccer match and taking part in various other sporting activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
An elephant kicks a ball while playing in an exhibition soccer match during the final day of the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 28, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event which involved elephants playing an exhibition soccer match and taking part in various other sporting activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
Elephants play an exhibition soccer match during the final day of the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 28, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event which involved elephants playing an exhibition soccer match and taking part in various other sporting activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
Locals run to watch elephants play an exhibition soccer match during the final day of the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 28, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event which involved elephants playing an exhibition soccer match and taking part in various other sporting activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
A referee gives instructions to a mahout during an exhibition soccer match played by elephants on the final day of the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 28, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event which involved elephants playing an exhibition soccer match and taking part in various other sporting activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
A mahout gives a bath to his elephant as preparation for the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 26, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
Tharu women arrive to participate in a parade marking an Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 26, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
A mahout takes a bath after finishing his work before he leaves to participate for the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 26, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
A mahout prepares his elephant for the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 26, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
An elephant runs to the finish line during an Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 26, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
A mahout on his elephant participates in a parade marking an Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 26, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
-
Mahouts ride on elephants as they cross the Rapti River after collecting food from Chitwan National Park at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 26, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Judges look at an adorned elephant during an elephant beauty contest at the Elephant Race event in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 27, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A mahout climbs his elephant as he heads towards the Chitwan National Park at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 28, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A donkey cart races to the finishing line during the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 27, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A tika is pictured on the forehead of an adorned elephant during an elephant beauty contest at the Elephant Race event in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 27, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A mahout displays his adorned elephant during an elephant beauty contest at the Elephant Race event in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 27, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Elephants run to the finish line during the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 27, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Elephants play an exhibition soccer match during the final day of the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 28, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event which involved elephants playing an exhibition soccer match and taking part in various other sporting activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
An elephant kicks a ball while playing in an exhibition soccer match during the final day of the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 28, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event which involved elephants playing an exhibition soccer match and taking part in various other sporting activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Elephants play an exhibition soccer match during the final day of the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 28, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event which involved elephants playing an exhibition soccer match and taking part in various other sporting activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Locals run to watch elephants play an exhibition soccer match during the final day of the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 28, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event which involved elephants playing an exhibition soccer match and taking part in various other sporting activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A referee gives instructions to a mahout during an exhibition soccer match played by elephants on the final day of the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 28, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event which involved elephants playing an exhibition soccer match and taking part in various other sporting activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A mahout gives a bath to his elephant as preparation for the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 26, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Tharu women arrive to participate in a parade marking an Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 26, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A mahout takes a bath after finishing his work before he leaves to participate for the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 26, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A mahout prepares his elephant for the Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 26, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
An elephant runs to the finish line during an Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 26, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A mahout on his elephant participates in a parade marking an Elephant Race event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 26, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Mahouts ride on elephants as they cross the Rapti River after collecting food from Chitwan National Park at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170km south of Kathmandu on Dec 26, 2012. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan participated in the Elephant Race event, where elephants will play in an exhibition soccer match and various other sports and activities. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
