Elephant games pay for upkeep

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Dozens of captive elephants raised funds for their upkeep Saturday by running races, playing tug-of-war and dancing to the rhythm of traditional drums.

Elephant trainers maneuvered their animals through a lively game of polo amid loud cheers from the boisterous crowd. The animals also took part in a 100-meter sprint and a hard-fought tug-of-war – with an elephant at one end of the rope and 150 men at the other. It was ruled a draw.

The event raised roughly $2,000 for the Tamed Elephants’ Owners Association.

Organizer Sunil Rambukpotha said it costs more than $15 per day to care for an elephant. The animals are kept as status symbols and often used in Buddhist ceremonies. It is now illegal in Sri Lanka to capture elephants in the wild and tame them, he said.

“Owners are making great efforts to look after and sustain those tamed elephants as this will be the final group of tamed elephants to be owned by individuals,” Sunil said.