Hunt is on for Jumbo Junior

CHERNG TALAY: A Jumbo Junior competition for children will be held next month as part of an ongoing project to raise money for mistreated elephants. The competition will not be only about physical size but also about having a larger-than-life personality, bouncing good health and super-sized intelligence and leadership abilities. Dusit Laguna Resort Phuket has organized activities on November 25 to mark the hotel’s 15th anniversary and the fourth anniversary of the Elephant Help Project Phuket (EHPP). Veterinarian Jirayu Nirunviroj, of the Phuket Provincial Livestock Office, said Phuket has 176 elephants in 22 elephant camps. Skin disease is a common complaint, and sometimes elephants are hurt by their mahouts. The project raised 800,000 baht in its first year and had since received 100,000 baht a year from 14 donation boxes around the island, said Urai Boontantrapiwat, who is on the EHPP committee. Children are invited to join the Jumbo Junior Camp on November 16-17 and the celebration on November 25 at Dusit Laguna. Scholarships of 5,000 baht, 3,000 baht and 2,000 baht will go to the winners and Sirintharika Santhisiri, Miss Jumbo of Thailand, is expected to join the festivities.