NEPAL: The fourth International Elephant Race is held in Kathmandu with 20 national and international participants competing

Record ID: 185035

  • Title: NEPAL: The fourth International Elephant Race is held in Kathmandu with 20 national and international participants competing
  • Date: 7th January 2008
  • Summary: (L!1) SAURAHA, CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK, NARAYANI, NEPAL (DECEMBER 27, 2007) (REUTERS) ELEPHANTS BEING WASHED AND DECORATED FOR RACE ELEPHANTS ENTERING GATES OF FAIR ELEPHANTS ENTERING RACE FIELD
  • Embargoed: 22nd January 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nepal
  • Country: Nepal
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAZVAP23L0UD2PVHI0WA2T0KLA
  • Story Text: Each year for the last four years Nepal has organised an International Elephant Race, attracting hundreds of onlookers -- both locals and tourists -- to one of the country's best-loved pastimes, which honours one of the country's most-loved animals.
    Appropriately timed to fall between Christmas and New Year, at the peak of the year's festive season, the elephant race is an event that mahouts across Nepal prepare for all year.
    Held for the fourth year running in Sauraha in Chitwan National Park in Narayani, the "Elephant Extravaganza" hopes to draw the attention of tourists to Nepal's wildlife and show that it is so much more than just a land of mountains.
    This year's race drew the participation of 20 national and international organisations, of which 12 qualified for the quarter final round.
    Ahead of the final race, both the mahouts and the audience struggled to contain their excitement.
    The race finale was contested by 6 elephants along with their mahouts and after hours of entertainment, the winner was an elephant named Junga Bahadur, who was represented by Asia World Enterprises of Thailand.
    "I finished in first place and I am feeling quite good." said the winning mahout, Surendra Chaudry, who works as a tour operator.
    The second prize went to a local team from Kathmandu.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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