12th Annual King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament in Hua Hin | Jack Kurtz: Photojournalist & Travel Photographer

ElephantPoloTournament

28 AUGUST 2013 - HUA HIN, PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, THAILAND: A mahout, elephant and polo player enter the field at the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament in Hua Hin, Thailand. The tournament’s primary sponsor in Anantara Resorts and the tournament is hosted by Anantara Hua Hin. This is the 12th year for the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament. The sport of elephant polo started in Nepal in 1982. Proceeds from the King’s Cup tournament goes to help rehabilitate elephants rescued from abuse. Each team has three players and three elephants. Matches take place on a pitch (field) 80 meters by 48 meters using standard polo balls. The game is divided into two 7 minute “chukkas” or halves. There are 16 teams in this year’s tournament, including one team of transgendered “ladyboys.” PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ

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Filename: ElephantPoloPS007.jpg
Image Size: 5760x3840 / 13.2MB; 082913 Animal Animal Rights Elephant Fun Hua Hin Polo Resort Sports Thailand Tourist Attraction Weird ZUMA
Contained in galleries: Thailand (All)

28 AUGUST 2013 - HUA HIN, PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, THAILAND: A mahout, elephant and polo player enter the field at the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament in Hua Hin, Thailand. The tournament’s primary sponsor in Anantara Resorts and the tournament is hosted by Anantara Hua Hin. This is the 12th year for the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament. The sport of elephant polo started in Nepal in 1982. Proceeds from the King’s Cup tournament goes to help rehabilitate elephants rescued from abuse. Each team has three players and three elephants. Matches take place on a pitch (field) 80 meters by 48 meters using standard polo balls. The game is divided into two 7 minute “chukkas” or halves. There are 16 teams in this year’s tournament, including one team of transgendered “ladyboys.” PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ