The Surin Elephant Round-Up

by: Debbie Salcedo

The month of November sees droves of tourists flocking to the city of Surin in Thailand for the annual Elephant Round-up.

   

Long renowned for their skill in capturing and training wild elephants, the people of Surin commemorate the start of this tradition that first began during the time when wild elephants from Cambodia started to decrease in numbers during the civil war. With the steadily depleting number of these great animals, the elephant hunters were forced to make their living by catching elephants and taking their charges around the country staging shows.

For most visitors, the highlight of the Surin round-up is the part where the elephants perform an elegantly choreographed display of their talents and abilities be it from balancing people standing atop their backs, or marching in procession to lively band music.

The very first round-up took place in the year 1960. It began with a mass procession of all the elephants taking part, numbering from 120-150, ranging from calves only a few weeks old to the well-trained elephants with many decades of experience.

During the exhibition itself, these huge animals would demonstrate their prowess at moving logs, playing soccer and winning a tug-of-war against human teams.

Other demonstrations were designed to show not only the great strength of the elephants but also show they can be very intelligent, gentle and obedient. The show concludes with a mock battle illustrating what was formerly an important part of their duties, acting as animal “battle tanks” carrying warriors and weapons mounted on their massive bodies.


In olden days, the Round-up was celebrated as a state ceremony and presided over by the king himself. Prayers and incantations written specifically for the ceremony were sent up for divine assistance and blessing in the taming of captured elephants. In recent times however, the event has become a major tourist draw for the country with Surin as the epicenter of all activities. Each year sees more and more visitors eagerly awaiting the start of the procession of these massive beasts.


The event is also an added opportunity not only for great fun and photo opportunities, but also a chance to observe the distinct culture of Thailand’s Northeastern province.