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Elephants feast and fight on Thailand’s National Elephant Day
Updated On Mar 14, 2017 01:01 pm IST
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Thai mahouts take part in an elephant fighting demonstration during Thailand's national elephant day celebration in the ancient city of Ayutthaya. (REUTERS)
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Mahouts pray while sitting on top of elephants. For centuries, elephants carried warriors into battle, took a key role in royal ceremonies and provided haulage for logging and other industries, in the absence of machines. (Chaiwat Subprasom/REUTERS)
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A baby elephant stands under its mother during the celebrations. (Chaiwat Subprasom/REUTERS)
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Elephants jostle together as they take part in the fighting demonstration with their Mahouts. (Chaiwat Subprasom/REUTERS)
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Today they are more likely to be part of tourist attractions - where the animals are often mistreated, however, say rights activists. (Chaiwat Subprasom/REUTERS)
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Mahouts ride on their elephants during the event. (Chaiwat Subprasom/REUTERS)
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A Thai Buddhist monk blesses and sprinkles holy water on the elephants. Spectators also watched a pair of the animals lock tusks to re-enact a scene from an ancient historic battle. (Chaiwat Subprasom/REUTERS)
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Students feed elephants as the villagers serve a buffet for them. (Chaiwat Subprasom/REUTERS)
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