Nepal hosts annual elephant polo championships

Nepal has hosted what seems to be the last series of its international elephant polo championships.

The game is based on horse polo, but with two people on the back of each elephant — a mahout that rides the animal and a player who focuses on scoring. This year’s edition of the game included eight 4-member teams from over ten countries.

The organizers of the event, however, have agreed to end the traditional game in Nepal following widespread criticism by animal rights activists regarding cruel treatment of the elephants.

Several other elephant polo events in different countries also faced cancellation and sponsorship withdrawal in the past for the same reason. In addition, all stats and records for elephant polo were removed from Guinness World Records book in 2011.

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