Domestic elephants in Vietnam province down by 93% in 40 years
Monday, August 21, 2023, 15:56 GMT+7
The number of domestically-raised elephants in Dak Lak, a province famous for taming elephants in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, has significantly decreased by about 93 percent over time, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
Beginning with approximately 502 individuals in the early 1980s, the population has dwindled to a mere 36 as of 2023.
Tran Xuan Phuoc, head of the Dak Lak center for elephant conservation, wildlife rescue, and forest protection management, said 14 of them are in Lak District and the remainder inhabit Buon Don District.
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| Mahouts ride elephants in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam. Photo: Vietnam News Agency |
Due to such a limited population, reproduction becomes a challenging endeavor, posing challenges to both conservation efforts and the species’ development.
The center maintains a close collaboration with organizations and elephant keepers to guarantee their proper care and well-being.
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| Tourists feed an elephant in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam. Photo: Vietnam News Agency |
It offered a buffet to the herd of domestic elephants in Lak District as part of an event commemorating World Elephant Day on August 12.
This was also an opportunity for both locals and tourists to raise their awareness of elephant conservation and to collaborate in establishing tourism models that are friendly to elephants, ultimately contributing to the well-being of these animals and aiding in the conservation of the domestic elephant population in Dak Lak.
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