20 Saturday, December 3, 2016 Nepalese mahouts prepare their elephants MammothThe The game is based on horse polo, but with two people on the back of each elephant -- a mahout that does the driving and the player who is concentrating on scoring.

the years had an illustrious guest list Tamang, 62, captain of the Nepal- of celebrities, including former Beatle Nawalparasi based Tiger Tops Tuskers team -- who Ringo Starr and the comedian Billy he elephants lumber across the won this year’s championship on Connolly. field on the edge of a Nepalese Friday. But the organisers said this year may T be the last for the jumbo tournament jungle in pursuit of a small white ball. “You have to know how your Nepalese in Nepal. It might be slightly slower-paced than elephants move and be strategic to men prepare “The games have raised awareness its horseback equivalent, but there’s win,” he said. polo sticks nothing sedate these polo pachyderms. This year, eight four-member for elephant conservation and welfare... Nepal has hosted the annual teams took part in the championship, but we don’t plan to do this next year,” international elephant polo with players flying in from over ten said Edwards’s son Kristjan, who now championships since 1982, attracting countries including Britain, the United heads Tiger Tops. players, celebrities, adventure-seekers States, Australia, Iceland, Holland and “We’ve always been ahead of the -- and the occasional first timer -- for a Sri Lanka. game in the way we treat our elephants. chance to take part in one of the most The idea was first conceived in a We prefer our elephants to remain unusual sports around. Swiss resort -- reportedly over a drink, as elephants, and the elephant polo is The game is based on horse polo, or two -- more than three decades ago hardly that.” but with two people on the back of by Brit A.V. Jim Edwards, who was Canadian Katie McGowan, 32, who each elephant -- a mahout that does among the first to run safaris in Nepal, was taking part in the championship the driving and the player who is and his friend James Manclark, an avid for the first time this year, said playing concentrating on scoring. polo player. the game exceeded her expectations. The players wield 2.5 metre It has since grown into a series “It is sad to know I cannot come (96 inches) long mallets to reach of tournaments held in Sri Lanka, back next year. But I’m excited for all the ground from the back of their Thailand and Nepal. the good work they are doing for the mammoth steeds. The annual event, hosted by the elephants.” (AFP) “It might look slow and easy, but Tiger Tops travel company, has over it quite hard,” said Bhim Bahadur

Nepalese mahouts ride their elephants to the polo grounds during the 35th International Elephant Polo Competition