Nepal: Elephant Polo

Yes, you read that correctly...


It does say elephant polo.


And in case you were wondering...


Yes, it is exactly what you are thinking.


Picture the sophisticated British game on horses but take out the horses and put the riders on elephants. This annual event brings in thousands of tourists each year to witness the spectacle.
Before I go on, I have to show you a clip so you can actually take the rest of this entry seriously (News clip from BBC News).

Elephant Polo

Origins

The sport will celebrate its 29th birthday in December. It was founded by former Winter 
Olympian James Manclark and adventurer Jim Edwards in 1982. Edwards' bought Tiger Tops Lodge (a notorious Nepal getaway) and created an exotic resort that welcomed celebrities (such as Ringo Starr) and high-rolling businessman who were the first fans of the event.

Manclark at Tiger Tops lodge

The high status of the clients at the game brought in reporters and soon after sponsors (luxury items such as watches and whiskey) which gave the sport funding and publicity quickly. That is why just four years later, the World Elephant Polo Association (WEPA) was formed as the sport's international governing body. 

WEPA has been pushing their 25th Anniversary T-shirts as the newest and most fabulous item from their merchandising collection. You can get clothes for him, her or random knick-knacks for your home (WEPA).




The Breakdown

• The game is divided into two 10-minute halves with a 15-minute halftime
• Teams switch sides and elephants at the half
• The field is 120m long by 70m wide with a goal at each end
• Four elephants are allowed in the game per team however only three may enter the offensive end at once
• Fouls are penalized with free hits from spot of penalty (Worlds Sport Encyclopedia)

Main differences between regular polo and elephant polo

• Riding elephants instead of horses
• The length of the stick
• Two people are riding the elephant (the player and the elephant trainer) opposed to one person
• Number of elephants on the field is far less than the number of horses
• Pace of the game

Teams
While its main stead is in Nepal, teams have been popping up all over the world. Last year's games welcomed three new countries

Tiger Tops Tuskers (Iceland)

National Parks (Nepal)

EFG Switzerland

British Gurkhas Nepal

Pukka Chukkas (Great Britain) 

Chivas Regal Scotland

Sepoys UAE (United Arab Emirates)

Afghanipants (Afghanistan)

Tickle and the Ivories (Australia)

Screwless Tuskers (Thailand)

Chivas Scotland has reigned as the heavy favorite for the past decade. Yet it was EFG Switzerland who took home the crown in 2010. The 2011 World Elephant polo match is scheduled for November 26,2011 at its home of the Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge in Southern Nepal (WEPA).


Even the United States has developed an elephant polo team. They have run into some road blocks trying to prepare for these games as it is a problem that elephants are not indigenous to Manhattan. Below is a link to the New York Post's coverage of how the first American elephant polo team prepared for the games.

USA Practice

Despite the obvious ludicrousness of the practice and of the sport, WEPA has actually published a 50-page rule book outlining the official rules and terms of the game. 


Who wouldn't be interested?
No matter what the headline reads or what font it's written in, it will capture your attention if it is written about the Dumbo-version of polo. Because of the eccentric and down right obscure nature to this sport, it has benefited from being publicized in nearly every advertising medium. It has the ability to reach markets and marketing vehicles that more common sports are unable to capitalize on (The Pukka Chukkas): 

Newspaper Cover

Feature of Virgin Blue in-flight magazine

Even appeared in Playboy magazine

Cause-Related Marketing

Asian elephants ride a slippery slope into extinction. With cities rising around every corner, the roaming ground for elephants diminishes. They are forced to mingle in congested cities which is killing them off fast. Only 13 Asian countries are still home to wild elephants and have only around 40,000 remaining. In Nepal,the number has dropped to as low as only 20 wild elephants remaining! The rest lead domesticated lives on Tiger Tops Lodge. 

WEPA has become a spokesperson for the protection of elephants and a voice for animal conservation. They have developed a rescue mission by taking elephants off the streets and moving them into sanctuaries. All of the proceeds from the games go to different elephant charities. The Thailand games alone have produced over $200,000 for this cause and have led to improved research, rescue and health developments for these creatures (Gluckman). 

The funding from WEPA was also a direct result of the first-ever elephant ambulance created!

References

Gluckman, Ron. (2009, April). World’s Dumbo-est Sport. Retrieved October 26, 2011 from http://www.gluckman.com/ElephantPolo.html

Monro, Lucy. (2007, November 24). Pachyderm Powerhouse Performance. Retrieved October 26, 2011 from http://elephantpolo.com/articles/pdf/p24-p39%20world%20ele%20polo%20champs%20final.pdf

The Pukka Chukkas. (http://www.pukkachukkas.com/press.html).

World Elephant Polo Association. (http://www.elephantpolo.com/).

World Elephant Polo Association. (2011, January 6). Press Release. Retrieved October 26, 2011 from http://www.yentra.com/2011/01/06/release-2010-wepa-world-elephant-polo-association/

World Sports Encyclopedia. (2011). Sport of the Day: Elephant Polo. Retrieved October 26, 2011 from http://www.sportencyclopedia.com/index.php?el=1&sbid=9