| The northeastern part of Thailand has always been | | | | number of elephants range from 120 to 150 and |
| popular with tourists for its festivals. However, the | | | | include calves and adults. |
| festival that is considered to be the most popular is | | | | Once the procession is over, the elephants begin to |
| the Surin Elephant Round Up which held annually in | | | | demonstrate their prowess by moving logs, playing |
| November. | | | | soccer and tug-of-war. The events are designed to |
| The people of Surin have long been renowned for | | | | show that the elephant is not only a strong animal |
| their skill in capturing and training wild elephants and | | | | but intelligent, gentle and obedient. The festival |
| rounding them up. In the past, wild elephants lived in | | | | concludes with a mock battle which used to be an |
| the forests near Cambodia. Unfortunately due to the | | | | important part of the elephants' lives in the days |
| war in Cambodia, the forests have become | | | | bygone. |
| inaccessible and the elephant population has dwindled | | | | In earlier times, the Surin Elephant Round Up Festival |
| drastically. Now the elephant catchers make their | | | | used to be presided over by the king. Prayers, |
| living by performing shows with their elephants. | | | | specially designed for this ceremony, were read and |
| The Surin Elephant Round Up Festival is a display of | | | | these included prayers for taming the captured |
| talents and abilities of the elephants. The first round | | | | elephants. In recent times, this festival has become a |
| up happened in 1960. The festival usually begins with | | | | major tourist attraction in Thailand with Surin being |
| a procession where all elephants take part. The | | | | the hub. |
