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Elephant Racing

Elephant racing is a celebration of the elephant itself, and a tributory event to celebrate the skill, sacrifice and hard work of elephant tamers past and present.

Asian elephants are used as racing elephants. I can find no reports of the African elephant being used as racers.

There is a train of thought that the elephants do not run atall in these races, but indeed just walk fast at the behest of the jockey (mahout). Elephants compete in different fields of gamery, including the 100m-race, swimming across the Serepoc River, pulling heavy objects, log throwing and playing football.

"Elephant racing" is frowned upon by many Hindus from India. The elephant is an animal to be respected and indeed worshipped according to some, or put to work, not used for fun and games. In fact, the elephant has been used in wartime, specifically by the Vietnamese resistance against the French and the Americans.

1) The distance of the elephant race will be 300 metres.

2) The track of the elephant race should be straight.

3) The width of the track will be 10 meters.

4) The participant cannot select the elephant themselves. The elephants of the respective participants will be selected by lottery method.

5) Not more than six elephants can participate in the race at a time.

6) In the same- finale and finale rounds the participants has to take part with their respective elephants . The elephants cannot be exchanged.

7) In case of injury, sickness or any other cases related to elephant behavior of the participating elephant, the elephant could be changed in accordance to the decision made by the selection committee.

8) The elephant that has acquired first and second position in the first round will be eligible to participate in the semi-final and the elephants acquired first and second position in the semi-final can participate in the final round.

9) After numbering the elephants through lottery method, the elephants will be grouped in a size of five from 1-5, 6-10, 11-15 and so on.

10 The track of the participating elephant will be determined before the race begins though lottery method.

11) Sticks cannot be used to beat and prick the elephant during the competition.

12) "Ankush" cannot be used in normal conditions to control the elephant other than in emergency conditions. Whereby, if the "Ankush" will be used, the elephant will be disqualified form the race.

13) From the beginning till the end of the race, the elephant should not go beyond the track line, if so the elephant will be disqualified from the race.

14) The participant and the elephant driver are not allowed to use alcohol or any kind of stimulating agents, if found so, both of them will be disqualified along with the elephant.

15) The same elephant and the participant taking part in the preliminary round should be in the semi-final and final rounds.

16) The decision made by the evaluation committee will be final and cannot be influenced.

The elephant enjoys protected status in India. Many Hindus revere the animals due to it's resemblance to the benevolent elephant-headed god Ganesh.

The scientific name for the Elephant, is Elephas Maximus. There are 2 basic species of elephant, ie the African and Asian elephant. Racing elephants are of the Asian variety. It is believed that elephants evolved from Jurrasic age aquatic animals like manatees, or the sea cow.

Elephants can communicate with each other over very long distances by use of low frequency infrasound, a sub-sonic rumble that travels through the ground alot further than sound travels through the atmosphere. The sensitive skin on the elephant trunk or feet picks up the resonant vibrations, like the skin of a drum. To listen very attentively, the whole herd will either lift one foreleg from the ground and face the source of the sound, or lay their trunks on the floor.

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