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A mahout trains his elephant dressed in a Santa Claus costume before a gift presentation to schoolchildren during Christmas celebrations in Ayutthaya on December 23, 2019. Wearing red and white hats and a string of bells, Thai elephants passed out Christmas gifts to hundreds of schoolchildren on Monday despite growing criticism over using the animals in performances. The annual festive event is organised by a nearby elephant park, whose mahouts or handlers started in the early morning dressing the animals. Thailand is largely Buddhist but decorative celebrations around Christmas are common especially at big name malls. In addition to Santa Claus hats and reindeer bells the elephants were outfitted with strands of white rope at the top of their trunks to resemble a white beard. (Photo by Mladen Antonov/AFP Photo)
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