Second annual Elephant Festival Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008
Decorated elephants and mahouts march through Paklay, Laos enroute to ceremonies at the second annual Elephant Festival Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008. Organizers of the three day festival are seeking increased awareness of the plight of the Asian Elephant.
A Laotian Mahout pauses with his elephant outside Paklay, Laos, following opening ceremonies at the second annual Elephant Festival. The event is held to draw attention to the plight of both domestic and wild elephants in Asia. Laos, once known as the land of a million elephants, has seen its numbers dwindle to less than two thousand domestic and wild elephants combined.
A Laotian elder spends a quite moment with an older elephant at the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay.
A Laotian mahout takes his elephant for an early morning bath in a nearby river just prior to ceremonies at the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay.
A Laotian mahout walks his elephant back to camp following an early morning bath at the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay.
Laotian Buddhist monks perform a blessing ceremony for elephants and mahouts at the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay.
A Laotian Buddhist monk performs a blessing ceremony for elephants and mahouts at the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay.
Village leaders and others gather for a blessing ceremony for elephants and mahouts at the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay.
A Laotian woman reaches out to touch the ivory tusk of a male elephant.
A Laotian mahouts walk their elephants for a bath in a nearby river just prior to ceremonies.
A young balloon vendor searches for customers following ceremonies.
A Laotian man shields himself from the blast of a homemade rocket at the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay.
Elephants and mahouts arrive for ceremonies at the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay.
Children of an Laotian mahout look on as their father prepares his elephant for ceremonies.
Elephants and mahouts arrive for ceremonies.
Crowds gather to watch as elephants and mahouts arrive for ceremonies.
Members of a Laotian family meet a baby elephant Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, prior to ceremonies.
A young mahout in training holds his elephant's ear as he and others present themselves to an awaiting crowd.
Elephants and mahouts arrive for opening ceremonies.
Elephants with mahouts gather at the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay.
Laotian women in traditional dress gather prior to opening ceremonies at the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay.
An elephant mahout helps decorate his elephant just prior to opening ceremonies at the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay.
A Laotian Mahout helper keeps close watch on his elephant prior to opening ceremonies.
Masked performers gather during opening ceremonies at the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay.
Elephants parade out from opening ceremonies.
Laotians in traditional ethnic dress dance during opening ceremonies.
A young Laotian girl in Hmong traditional dress looks on during opening ceremonies.
A Laotian Mahout looks on as elephants parade during opening ceremonies.
Young Laotians offer sugar cane to elephants as they walk to opening ceremonies.
Two young Laotian school girls in their class uniforms wait for opening ceremonies.
A group of elephants and their mahouts gather under a coconut palm tree just prior to the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay.
Laotians both young and old press against a fence to catch a glimpse of opening ceremonies at the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay.
A Laotian mahout holds the ears of two elephants as they wait for a procession to begin at the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay.
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