As the post-war era neared its end, the elephant round-up became progressively more staged and less of a real hunt.
It became common to use tame or even trained elephants during the event.
The round-ups were enacted primarily for the entertainment of royal guests.
For example, King Chulalongkorn, also called Rama V, had a round-up specially staged for the Russian Prince Nicholas II in 1891 during the latter's world tour as a crown prince.
Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore visited Thailand and its provinces during 1903 and was bestowed with a royal invitation to see the round-up as an envoy of the NGS.
She wrote about her experience, titling the story "The Greatest Hunt in the World".
In her printed story she related that the monarch of Siam and his entourage came to stay at the summer palace for the roundup which they sponsored.
Dignitaries came by cruiser or rail, and locals mostly arrived by boat.
She said that hunters worked for many hours and used various tactics to herd elephants numbering in their hundreds towards the "kraal".
The krall was an enclosure, the broadness of whose walls was about two meters and it had an inner enclosure made out of thick teak logs which measured up three and half meters in height.
Iron bands buttressed the wooden walls.
According to her account, more than 250 elephants were rounded up that year.
Some were unintentionally hurt as they stomped and trumpeted during the round-up, but these received immediate care.

Over time, the round-ups grew progressively staged.
The elephants utilized in the round-ups were often tame, who had to play the role of wild animals.
This move from actual to artifice preceded the influx of tourism and therefore tourists never witnessed a real hunt.
By 1938, the round-up had transitioned so far into a staged event that ladies in the audience were asked to choose which elephant ought to be captured next.
The round-ups were abandoned in 1938, although a special "last" round-up was officially sponsored by the monarchy in 1962.
It was staged in honour of King Frederick IX of Denmark and his wife Ingrid, who visited Thailand in early-1962.
As the post-war era neared its end, the elephant round-up became progressively more staged and less of a real hunt. It became common to use tame or even trained elephants during the event. The round-ups were enacted primarily for the entertainment of royal guests. For example, King Chulalongkorn, also called Rama V, had a round-up specially staged for the Russian Prince Nicholas II in 1891 during the latter's world tour as a crown prince. Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore visited Thailand and its provinces during 1903 and was bestowed with a royal invitation to see the round-up as an envoy of the NGS. She wrote about her experience, titling the story "The Greatest Hunt in the World". In her printed story she related that the monarch of Siam and his entourage came to stay at the summer palace for the roundup which they sponsored. Dignitaries came by cruiser or rail, and locals mostly arrived by boat. She said that hunters worked for many hours and used various tactics to herd elephants numbering in their hundreds towards the "kraal". The krall was an enclosure, the broadness of whose walls was about two meters and it had an inner enclosure made out of thick teak logs which measured up three and half meters in height. Iron bands buttressed the wooden walls. According to her account, more than 250 elephants were rounded up that year. Some were unintentionally hurt as they stomped and trumpeted during the round-up, but these received immediate care.
Over time, the round-ups grew progressively staged. The elephants utilized in the round-ups were often tame, who had to play the role of wild animals. This move from actual to artifice preceded the influx of tourism and therefore tourists never witnessed a real hunt. By 1938, the round-up had transitioned so far into a staged event that ladies in the audience were asked to choose which elephant ought to be captured next. The round-ups were abandoned in 1938, although a special "last" round-up was officially sponsored by the monarchy in 1962. It was staged in honour of King Frederick IX of Denmark and his wife Ingrid, who visited Thailand in early-1962.
Surin Elephant Round-up