Fast and furious: Vietnam's elephant race draws cheers, and critics

Locals say the race is a celebration of the much-revered animals

BUON DON (AFP) - Mahout Y Hoi Bya sits atop his elephant, whacking him with a large stick to urge him toward the finish line at the Buon Don race in Vietnam s central highlands.

Locals say the race is a celebration of the much-revered animals -- traditionally thought of as family members in this part of Vietnam -- but conservation groups are calling for an end to the festival, which they say is cruel and outdated.

Normally held every two years, the Buon Don elephant festival -- a major tourist event -- features football matches, swimming sessions, a parade and a buffet for the animals, topped off with a highly anticipated race on the event s final two days.

Y Hoi says his animal s past successes in the popular race has earned him and his pet pride of place in his village in central Dak Lak province, home to many of Vietnam s surviving elephants.

"He often wins first place in the running competition in Dak Lak," said the 38-year-old, who started caring for elephants as a young boy.

His elephant s pre-competition routine involves a regular diet of bananas and sugarcane to ensure its strength, Y Hoi, from the Ede ethnic minority group, told AFP.

It appears to have worked: he rode his elephant Kham Sinh to victory, beating out 10 others for the top prize of $130.

The festival drew hundreds of cheering spectators as well as animal activists who say the elephants shouldn t be forced to work long hours under the hot sun, and then beaten with sticks during the race.

"That is one of the highest levels of animal cruelty, especially because it s entertainment," said Dionne Slagter of the NGO Animals Asia.

She was happy to see fewer elephants take part in this year s festivities -- just 14 from dozens in years past -- but hopes authorities adopt a more ethical approach to animal tourism in the future.

Animals Asia last year launched Vietnam s first ethical elephant tours, offering guests a chance to see the animals which the NGO rescued roaming in the national park.

More than 80 elephants in Vietnam are still kept in captivity, usually used for elephant rides -- backbreaking work that has rendered most infertile today.

The 100-150 wild elephants have also shown little promise of boosting their numbers.

The festival left some spectators like Vu Tran Minh Anh with mixed feelings.

"I didn t think elephants could do so many things like play football, run and swim," the student told AFP.

"But I do feel sorry for the elephants."