Live

In Pictures

Gallery

For sport, fun and charity: Elephant polo

The world elephant polo championship 2015 took place in Royal Chitwan National Park in Nepal.

The World Elephant Polo Championship is the event of the year for the villagers in southern Nepal's Royal Chitwan National Park. The five-day tournament is an important source of income for many families as it attracts thousands of spectators. [Silvia Cachafeiro/Al Jazeera]
The World Elephant Polo Championship is the event of the year for the villagers in southern Nepal's Royal Chitwan National Park. The five-day tournament is an important source of income for many families as it attracts thousands of spectators. [Silvia Cachafeiro/Al Jazeera]
By 
Martin Zinggl and 
Silvia Cachafeiro
19 Dec 2015

Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal – Elephant polo originated in 1982, the bizarre idea of two British entrepreneurs, Jim Edwards and James Manclark.

Edwards had established Tiger Tops, a tourism venture which offered elephant safaris in 1961, and which has since become a family-run ecotourism lodge in Royal Chitwan National Park.

The idea of playing polo with elephants was born one day when his friend and polo enthusiast, Manclark came up with the idea. The game between friends has now turned into an annual tournament, taking place at Tiger Tops, which attracts polo enthusiasts and players from all over the world while offering a combination of sport, fun, and charity work. 

Today, elephant polo has been registered as an Olympic sport in Nepal and is internationally recognised as an official sport, which is also played in India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The World Elephant Polo Association acts as an umbrella organisation for the championship in Nepal, where eight teams fiercely compete for five days in November.

The bond between elephants and the mahout who takes care of them grows over the years, which can be seen in the attention lavished on the creatures during the daily routine of feeding and cleaning. Here, one of the elephants receives a pedicure. [Silvia Cachafeiro/Al Jazeera]
The bond between elephants and the mahout who takes care of them grows over the years, which can be seen in the attention lavished on the creatures during the daily routine of feeding and cleaning. Here, one of the elephants receives a pedicure. [Silvia Cachafeiro/Al Jazeera]
Advertisement
Before the games start the mahouts paint their elephants with coloured chalk for decoration and divide them into two teams. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Before the games start the mahouts paint their elephants with coloured chalk for decoration and divide them into two teams. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Rules and regulations for elephant polo have been adapted from the equine game. The pitch is shortened, the polo mallets are longer and if an elephant sits or lies down in the goal, the opposing team is given a penalty shot. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Rules and regulations for elephant polo have been adapted from the equine game. The pitch is shortened, the polo mallets are longer and if an elephant sits or lies down in the goal, the opposing team is given a penalty shot. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Eight teams of four players compete for the coveted championship. There is even an award for the best dressed team. This year's winners of the sartorial prize were the team 'Rusty Kukris' with their distinctive jerseys. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Eight teams of four players compete for the coveted championship. There is even an award for the best dressed team. This year's winners of the sartorial prize were the team 'Rusty Kukris' with their distinctive jerseys. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Some participants have been playing elephant polo since its inception in 1982. Often their passion for the game goes beyond the pitch. The event raises money for elephant welfare in several countries. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Some participants have been playing elephant polo since its inception in 1982. Often their passion for the game goes beyond the pitch. The event raises money for elephant welfare in several countries. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Kristjan Edwards, manager of Tiger Tops and son of elephant polo founder, acts as a referee in one of the four games played each day. A game consists of two halves, called chukkers, each lasting ten minutes. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Kristjan Edwards, manager of Tiger Tops and son of elephant polo founder, acts as a referee in one of the four games played each day. A game consists of two halves, called chukkers, each lasting ten minutes. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Advertisement
Although the slow-moving nature of the game might seem like an advantage at first glance, it is its biggest challenge. Since elephants are rather clumsy, accuracy when hitting the ball is the game. [Silvia Cachafeiro/Al Jazeera]
Although the slow-moving nature of the game might seem like an advantage at first glance, it is its biggest challenge. Since elephants are rather clumsy, accuracy when hitting the ball is the game. [Silvia Cachafeiro/Al Jazeera]
Although played on the backs of heavyweight mounts, elephant polo can at times appear as elegant and light-footed as ballet. Due to the slower speed of the elephants, the pitch size has been reduced from an original horse polo pitch, to around 100 metres by 70. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Although played on the backs of heavyweight mounts, elephant polo can at times appear as elegant and light-footed as ballet. Due to the slower speed of the elephants, the pitch size has been reduced from an original horse polo pitch, to around 100 metres by 70. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
In the heat of the game the firm but flexible bamboo mallets often break. Attentive mahouts wait at the edge of the pitch to quickly replace them. [Silvia Cachafeiro/Al Jazeera]
In the heat of the game the firm but flexible bamboo mallets often break. Attentive mahouts wait at the edge of the pitch to quickly replace them. [Silvia Cachafeiro/Al Jazeera]
Team strategy is key and is often discussed at half-time during refreshments. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Team strategy is key and is often discussed at half-time during refreshments. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Nepalese participants are known for their calm, cool manner and not showing their inner excitement in public. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Nepalese participants are known for their calm, cool manner and not showing their inner excitement in public. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Spectators are enthusiastic when it comes to celebrating a goal, often exploding into cheers. [Silvia Cachafeiro/Al Jazeera]
Spectators are enthusiastic when it comes to celebrating a goal, often exploding into cheers. [Silvia Cachafeiro/Al Jazeera]
Peter 'Powerhouse' Prentice, chairman of the World Elephant Polo Association, says of the game: 'If played by beginners it is mostly lame, but when experienced players compete, it can get very exciting.' [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Peter 'Powerhouse' Prentice, chairman of the World Elephant Polo Association, says of the game: 'If played by beginners it is mostly lame, but when experienced players compete, it can get very exciting.' [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Although the championship is played among friends and colleagues, elephant polo remains a competitive sport where, at the end of the day, one team loses and one wins. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
Although the championship is played among friends and colleagues, elephant polo remains a competitive sport where, at the end of the day, one team loses and one wins. [Martin Zinggl/Al Jazeera]
In 2015, EFG Switzerland became the 34th World Elephant Polo Champions and lifted the trophy. [Silvia Cachafeiro/Al Jazeera]
In 2015, EFG Switzerland became the 34th World Elephant Polo Champions and lifted the trophy. [Silvia Cachafeiro/Al Jazeera]
More from Gallery

In Pictures: Guatemala forces battle desperate Honduran migrants

Guatemalan police fire tear gas to disperse a caravan of thousands of migrants heading towards the US. [Johan Ordonez/AFP]

In Pictures: New protests in France against security bill

Demonstrators, most wearing masks to protect against COVID-19, during a protest against the controversial security bill in Paris. [Christophe Ena/AP Photo]

In Pictures: Aftermath of the deadly Indonesia earthquake

A man rides his motorbike past collapsed houses in the aftermath of an earthquake in Mamuju, West Sulawesi. [Iqbal Lubis/EPA]

In Pictures: Panic grips Bangui residents after rebel attack

During a lull in the fighting, people come to collect information and assess the situation. Some fled towards the city centre, but many stayed hidden in their homes during the fighting. [Adrienne Suprenant/Al Jazeera]
Most Read

First Lady Melania Trump releases farewell message

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will leave the White House on Wednesday [File: Evan Vucci/The Associated Press]

New videos show Wuhan during earliest days of COVID outbreak

Alberta leader asks Biden to ‘show respect’, hold Keystone talks

A depot used to store pipes for the Keystone XL oil pipeline is seen in Gascoyne, North Dakota, in January 2017 [Terray Sylvester/Reuters]

Whom might Donald Trump pardon before his presidency ends?

On Tuesday, his final full day in office, US President Donald Trump is expected to announce the pardoning of more than 100 people, local media reported, capping a tumultuous four-year term in office [Carlos Barria/Reuters]