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March 31 - April 6, 2008
At Anantara Golden Triangle Resort, Chiang Rai
Spectator entrance is free of charge.
Thailand’s highly popular King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament returns to the hills in 2008. Event organiser
Anantara Resorts announced that the 2008 tournament would take place from March 31 to April 6 in the
northern-most region of the country known as the Golden Triangle.
This popular event, ranked as the sixth largest event on the Thai tourism calendar was introduced to Thailand
in 2001 and is a charitable event that raises money for the country’s National Elephant Institute in Lampang,
Northern Thailand. Hosting the event in the far North ensures that the international spotlight is focused
onto a very unique and special part of Thailand, showcasing the beauty of the natural landscape of the Golden
Triangle region — the natural home of elephants.
Through its own Elephant Camp located within the grounds of the Anantara Resort Golden Triangle, the
property’s focus on the future of Thailand’s pachyderm population and forms an integral part of the resort’s
operations. On an on-going basis, resident Director of Elephants, John Roberts, works closely with the Thai
government’s Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang to develop Anantara’s camp as an elephant sanctuary.
The funds raised from the 2006 tournament are being used to custom-build an elephant-sized ambulance which
will be donated to the National Elephant Institute.
To date the tournament has raised over US$175,000 for the National Elephant Institute, which provides medical
care, sustenance, employment, welfare and mahout training to Thailand’s elephant population. It is estimated
that Thailand has around 2500 domesticated elephants and 1500 wild elephants. This is down from an elephant
population of around 50,000 in 1950 and 100,000 in 1900.
The 2006 tournament featured the return of Tom Claytor, a bush pilot who loves to play elephant polo, Margie
McDougal, the most experienced female player in the world, Torquhil Ian Campbell, 13th Duke of Argyll, an
experienced captain from ThisistheLife.com Scotland, All Blacks team headed by Justin Sampson (Sambo),
Bernie Fraser, New Zealand’s former world-ranking rugby player.
Anantara Resort Golden Triangle is located 60km north of Chiang Rai’s international airport.
For more information, visit
www.anantaraelephantpolo.com
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