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Banfi Ends Sponsorship of Cruel Elephant Polo Match

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PETA Sends North America’s Leading Wine Importer Vegan Chocolates for Withdrawing Support From Abusive Tournament

Glen Head, N.Y. — In response to disturbing video footage released by PETA Asia showing handlers repeatedly beating elephants for Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort’s 2018 King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament in Thailand, event sponsor Banfi Vintners has informed PETA that it will no longer support the cruel competition, which touts itself as a charity event for elephants. In thanks, PETA has sent the company delicious elephant-shaped vegan chocolates.

Representatives of Glen Head–based Banfi—North America’s leading wine importer for more than three decades—stated that they were “horrified” by the footage of the event. The company’s sponsorship originated with Castello Banfi, which operates independently of Banfi in the U.S. After viewing the footage, both Banfi and Castello Banfi executives unanimously decided never to sponsor the event again.

“Banfi was quick to reject the cruelty of beating elephants into submission for an archaic polo display,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is calling on the tournament’s remaining sponsors and event organizers alike to follow Banfi’s example and stop enabling this horrific abuse.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—notes that elephants used for polo tournaments, rides, or any other type of entertainment are typically beaten into submission. Between matches, they’re often shackled so tightly that they can barely take a step.

Because of this cruelty, The Guinness Book of World Records has struck all mention of elephant polo records from its pages. Banfi joins several other companies—including the Campari Group—that have ended or suspended their sponsorships of the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament following PETA Asia’s investigation. PETA is calling on Anantara and its parent company Minor Hotel Group, the organizers of the event, to end the tournament altogether.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

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