Obviously the origin of the feral drop-bears. I'd be pretty damned feral if I'd been dropped on a polo ground, too! (Drop bears are a sub-species of fanged koala which drop out of their gum-trees on unsuspecting tourists and unwary bushies, RIPPING THEIR THROATS OUT !) Heleanor (we close on the 19th) Feltham [log in to unmask] ---------- From: daemon To: MUSEUM-L Subject: Re: Buzkashi and/or Buried chickens. Date: Wednesday, 11 June 1997 2:46PM Sophia C Vackimes wrote: > > I need help on a research project which includes seeking information about > two different sports. > ***One an Eastern Asian which involves several > horsemen pulling a beheaded calf out of the ground and competing for Not quite what you are after perhaps, but I have heard of Australian koala polo, where the native koala bear is used instead of a ball. Apparently this sport originated in the 19th century, when koalas were a lot more common than polo balls. The near spherical form of the popular marsupial, and its satisfying grunt when thwacked with the mallet are cited as reasons for this traditional game among Australian bushmen. I believe that negotiations with the Olympic Committees are currently underway to secure inclusion in the "special local sport" section of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Alan Sisley Orange Regional Gallery