Chiang Mai Elephants tuck in to a variety of fruit at a buffet laid out for them on National Elephant Day in Thailand yesterday.

Huge bunches of bananas and tonnes of sugar cane were on the menu for the all-you-can-eat treat at the Maesa Elephant Camp sanctuary in the northern province of Chiang Mai.

More than 70 elephants took part in the festivities, which have been held since 1998, when the Government declared March 13 National Thai Elephant Day.

Hundreds of tourists watched the animals as they paraded around the camp, played sports matches and even painted pictures. Elephants at the sanctuary are taught to play sports such as football, bowls, baseball and basketball.

One elephant used its trunk to blow darts to burst balloons.

The elephant is Thailand’s national animal and government officials hope that events such as National Elephant Day will make people revere them as it tries to conserve its elephant population, now around 4,500.

“The Government declared March 13 to be National Elephant Day. We hold the ceremony to let people know how important Thai elephants are,” Chuchart Kallamapichit, the owner of the Maesa Elephant Camp, said. (Reuters)

from: www.timesonline.co.uk