Dear All

   One of the driving forces behind each year's King's Cup Elephant Polo tournaments is the massive charity auction during which we raise money to help the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre. Last year's money was converted, at their request, into three brand new Toyota Hilux Vigo pick-ups to help them deliver elephant fodder to the 50-odd elephants they look after down in Lampang and their ele-hospital.

   Yesterday they took ownership of the pick-ups which will be on display at a press conference we will be holding in Bangkok on the 18th of this month to promote this year's elephant polo which will be held from the 4th - 10th of September in the Golden Triangle (home to the best elephants!).

   None of our elephants will take part as we use the opportunity to bring street eles off the streets for two weeks to give them a rest, some veterinary care and excellent high energy food - also taking part this year will be two camps from Chiang Mai.

   This year will see the first ever full 'mahouts-only' championship between three villages in Surin and the two Chiang Mai camps, the hope being that the mahouts-only game can continue to grow alongside the International game and provide alternative employment for some of the street elephants.

   We will also be having a major prize, judged by an international panel of experts, for the mahout who takes the best care of his elephant both on and off the pitch throughout the tournament.

   If you can, come up and see us - all the hotels in the Golden Triangle are fully booked but there are still one or two beds in Chiang Rai city!

Many thanks

John

PS.  With this year's auction money we hope to be able to buy an all wheel drive elephant transportation truck to help them get sick elephants too their hospital - an ele ambulance!