An elephant carries a kid at the Elephant Festival 2020 held in northern Lao province of Xayaboury on Feb. 22, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
VIENTIANE, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Elephant Festival is being held from Feb. 22 to Feb. 28 in northern Lao province of Xayaboury, some 240 km north of Lao capital Vientiane.
The annual festival, which has been held since 2007, aims to raise awareness of the need for action to protect the Asian elephant.
Elephants perform dance at the Elephant Festival 2020 held in northern Lao province of Xayaboury on Feb. 22, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
An elephant plays basketball at the Elephant Festival 2020 held in northern Lao province of Xayaboury on Feb. 22, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
An elephant plays basketball at the Elephant Festival 2020 held in northern Lao province of Xayaboury on Feb. 22, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
Elephants perform dance at the Elephant Festival 2020 held in northern Lao province of Xayaboury on Feb. 22, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
An elephant plays basketball at the Elephant Festival 2020 held in northern Lao province of Xayaboury on Feb. 22, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
Elephants play basketball at the Elephant Festival 2020 held in northern Lao province of Xayaboury on Feb. 22, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
Elephants interact with tourists at the Elephant Festival 2020 held in northern Lao province of Xayaboury on Feb. 22, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
A man rides on an elephant during the Elephant Festival in a tributary of Mekong River in northern Lao province of Xayaboury, on Feb. 22, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
A man rides on an elephant during the Elephant Festival in a tributary of Mekong River in northern Lao province of Xayaboury, on Feb. 22, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
Kids play with elephants during the Elephant Festival in a tributary of Mekong River in northern Lao province of Xayaboury, on Feb. 22, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
A man rides on an elephant during the Elephant Festival in a tributary of Mekong River in northern Lao province of Xayaboury, on Feb. 22, 2020. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) ■