Elephant Festival Returns to Sauraha After Three Years
Nepal’s popular wildlife destination, Sauraha, in the centre-southern Terai, is gearing up to host the much-anticipated Elephant Festival after a three-year hiatus. Scheduled to commence on December 26, the five-day festival will bring together locals and tourists to celebrate these majestic creatures. However, in response to criticism from animal rights activists, the organisers have decided to remove elements such as elephant polo, football, and racing from the festivities.
Binayak Shah, President of the Hotel Association Nepal, expressed his excitement about the festival’s return while highlighting the absence of certain events this year. We have resumed the elephant festival in Chitwan, but this year, there won’t be any elephant polo, football, or races, he explained. The decision to halt these activities was made in response to pleas from animal rights activists who voiced concerns about the exploitation of elephants.
The discontinuation of polo, football, and races marks a significant shift in the festival’s format. Elephant polo, a unique sport that was introduced in Nepal in 1982, used to attract hordes of foreigners to Chitwan every winter. However, the organisers, Eco-tourism pioneer Tiger Tops, stopped hosting the International Elephant Polo Competition in 2017 to support the fight against animal cruelty. Following the example set by Tiger Tops, other organisers ceased holding elephant polo events in Thailand and Sri Lanka due to the exposure of abusive treatment inflicted on the elephants.
The decision to remove these controversial activities from the festival has garnered international attention. In recent years, animal rights organizations, including Pro Elephant Network, have written to the Nepalese government, urging them to put an end to the event due to concerns about possible elephant abuse.
Despite the removal of certain events, the elephant beauty contest and elephant picnic will continue to be part of the festival. These activities provide an opportunity to appreciate the grace and magnificence of the elephants without subjecting them to potentially harmful practices.
Basanta Raj Mishra, Executive Chairman of the Temple Tiger Group, believes that setting standards for elephant-back rides is crucial. He suggested implementing guidelines in Nepal to restrict the number of people riding elephants and the number of hours they work each day. Mishra emphasized the importance of ensuring the well-being of the elephants, while also acknowledging the financial burden of maintaining these animals in the absence of tourism.
With approximately 100 captive elephants in Nepal, including those utilized by the government for jungle patrols, managing their welfare and providing for their upkeep poses significant challenges. Mishra explained that the cost of housing, feeding, and providing medical treatment for the elephants can reach up to Rs75,000-100,000 per month. Without the support of tourism, these elephants could face an uncertain future.
Tourism entrepreneurs have invested billions in building hotels and resorts in Chitwan and Nawalparasi, with the primary objective of offering wildlife adventure experiences, including elephant safaris. However, there is an increasing need to strike a balance between tourism and animal welfare.
As the elephant festival returns to Sauraha, without controversial activities, tourists will have the opportunity to engage with these magnificent creatures in a responsible and compassionate manner. By prioritizing the well-being of the elephants, Nepal is taking a step in the right direction, aligning with international movements advocating for animal rights and welfare.
