Mahouts tie a seat on an elephant before the Elephant Festival at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu, December 26, 2014. Elephants and mahouts from Chitwan will participate in the Elephant festival, which involves elephant races, elephants playing an exhibition soccer match and taking part in various other sporting activities. The event will start from 26 December and will end on 30 December, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Elephants lock horns at the elephant shelter before the Elephant Festival at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu, December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

The forehead of an elephant is pictured as a mahout decorates it using chalk while preparing for the Elephant Festival at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu, December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A mahout decorates his elephant using chalk while preparing for the Elephant Festival at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu, December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A mahout decorates his elephant using chalk while preparing for the Elephant Festival at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu, December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Tharu performers dressed in traditional attire participate in a parade marking an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A mahout cleans his elephant in the early morning before the Elephant Festival at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu, December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Tharu performers dressed in traditional attire participate in a parade marking an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Tharu performers dressed in traditional attire participate in a parade marking an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Tharu performers dressed in traditional attire participate in a parade marking an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Tharu performers dressed in traditional attire participate in a parade marking an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

People arrive on a vehicle to take part in a parade marking an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Tharu performers dressed in traditional attire participate in a parade marking an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

The foot of a 'mahout' is seen as he rides his elephant in a parade marking an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A Tharu girl dressed in traditional attire participate in a parade marking an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A traditional ornament is pictured on the head of a Tharu girl during a parade marking an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

An elephant leads a parade during an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A man pose for a picture in front of an elephant during a parade marking an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Tharu performers dressed in traditional attire participate in a parade marking an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Elephants run after a ball while playing a soccer match during an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

An elephant kicks a ball while playing a soccer match during an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A mahout on his elephant walks in front of a goalpost while playing a soccer match during an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

People watch elephants race towards the finishing line during an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 26, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A mahout rides on his elephant as it grazes on the Chitwan National Park ahead of the Elephant festival at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu, December 27, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A mahout rides on his elephant as they cross Rapti River while returning from Chitwan National Park ahead of the Elephant festival at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu December 27, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A mahout rides on his elephant as they cross Rapti River while returning from Chitwan National Park ahead of the Elephant festival at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu, December 27, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Participants row their boats on the Rapti River during the boat race event organised during the Elephant festival at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu December 27, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A horse cart races to the finishing line during the Elephant festival at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu December 27, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Horse carts race to the finishing line during the Elephant festival at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu December 27, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A bullock cart races to the finishing line during the Elephant festival at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu December 27, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A “mahout”, or a person who rides an elephant, offers food to an elephant during the feast organised during an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu December 27, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Elephants race towards the finishing line during an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu December 27, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Elephants feed at a feast during the Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu December 27, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Elephants feed at a feast during the Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu December 27, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A mahout bathes his elephant at Rapti River before the Elephant Festival at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu, December 28, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A mahout cleans his elephant before the Elephant Festival at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu, December 28, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

A mahout decorates his elephant before the Elephant Festival at Sauraha in Chitwan, south of Kathmandu, December 28, 2014. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)