Thailand - Elephant Basketball

Elephants Malie and Toktak play basketball at Island Safari in Koh Samui.

6 year old Malie and Toktak, 9, train every day at basketball with their mahouts, Bom, 19 and Man, aged 22.
Ning, one of the organisers at the tourist centre explained,
"It takes 2-3 months of intensive training to teach an elephant the basics of basketball. After that stage we continue the training every day to improve their standards."

First the elephants are taught...
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Elephants Malie and Toktak play basketball at Island Safari in Koh Samui.

6 year old Malie and Toktak, 9, train every day at basketball with their mahouts, Bom, 19 and Man, aged 22.
Ning, one of the organisers at the tourist centre explained,
"It takes 2-3 months of intensive training to teach an elephant the basics of basketball. After that stage we continue the training every day to improve their standards."

First the elephants are taught basic ball control, holding the ball with their trunk and throwing it at a target. Next they are taught to stand on their hind legs and walk with the ball. Finally, everything is put together and they stand, walk, and shoot the ball at the basketball hoop.
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