Elephants have been prominently featured
in Thai legend, literature, art and
architecture, and during the reign of
King Rama II, an image of the auspicious
elephant, symbolic of the King, was
featured on the flag.
In daily life,
as man and elephant depend on each
other, the elephant is treated as part
of the 'family'. The everyday life of
the Thai elephant and its keeper is the
central theme of the world-famous Surin
elephant round-up held annually.
The Ban Ta Klang Elephant Village in
Surin Province is the home of the Kui,
who, for centuries, have tended to and
trained elephants for use throughout
Thailand. These handlers have great
respect for their elephants.
The
majority of elephant owners and mahouts
in Thailand today are descendants of the
"Kui" tribe (or "Suay" in Thai). They
are thought to have migrated from
Cambodia to settle largely in the
northeastern provinces near the
Cambodian border. Known for their
expertise in capturing, domesticating
and training wild elephants, the
life-long relationship of the mahout
with his elephant is an integral element
of Kui culture, tradition and the way of
life. The elephant is his companion and
a family member.
The Surin
Elephant Round-up Show has been
organised by the Tourism Authority of
Thailand since 1960 and has been
well-received internationally.
Surin is a rarely visited province in
the northeast. But once a year, on the
third weekend of November, the spotlight
is very much directed at the province as
the venue for one of the most exciting
spectacles of the year-the annual
Elephant Round-Up.
Surin has
long been associated with elephants. The
folks here are well recognized for their
skill in capturing
and rounding up wild elephants as well
as training and taming them. Surin is
often known as the 'province of
elephants'.
Many of
Surin's elephants and their mahouts
travel to places like Bangkok to earn
money for much of the year. But in
November, they all head back to their
native province for the big occasion.
Every
year, more than 100 elephants take part
in this event. The Elephant Round-up
displays the amazing grace, strength and
intelligence of this huge creature in
games of soccer, log carrying, and the
tug-of-war against human teams. The
talent and playfulness of the pachyderms
never fail to draw cheers from the
spectators.
The
highlight of the show is the mock
battle, which best shows the talent and
strength of this lovable animal. In
times past, elephants played a key role
in wars against invading armies.
Previously, the elephant round-up was a
state ceremony presided over only by the
King. Prayers and citations were devised
for the ceremony and for the taming of
the captured elephants afterwards.
The
annual Elephant Round-up is by far and
away the most popular festival of Surin
and perhaps the whole of the
northeastern region. Don't miss this
unique opportunity to witness the
incredible skill and intelligence of the
elephant - Thailand's national symbol.
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