Anantara Hotels and Resorts’ King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament is on the move from its original home of Hua Hin to the Thai capital of Bangkok from August 28-31.
The annual tournament, now in its 13th year, has become one of the biggest charitable events in SE Asia.
Last year’s event involved 16 teams, including Thai supermodels, professional horse polo players, the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team and Thailand’s famous transgender cabaret team Miss Tiffany’s.
More than US$750,000 has been raised and donated to projects that better the lives of Thailand’s wild and domesticated elephant population.
Fundraising from last year’s event has been donated to a number of projects in Thailand including supporting research and clinics using elephants in therapy sessions for children living with autism; building the first elephant hospital in Krabi in the southern part of Thailand and donating a gantry to help lame elephants stand at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre).
A total of 50 street elephants will take part in this year’s tournament, during which they are fed, provided with a native forest environment, and receive essential vitamin supplements, full veterinary checks and care for the duration of the event.
The event will move from the Royal seaside town of Hua Hin to the Siam Polo Park at VR Sports Club in Bangkok.
