Authorities in Son La Province, northern Vietnam are adopting measures to conserve a newly-detected mature wild elephant and ensure the safety of local residents and their properties following the appearance of the animal.

Vang Si, a local inhabitant, said he discovered that the elephant was foraging for food while en route to Phieng Cam Commune, Mai Son District, Son La Province at around 8:00 am on Wednesday.

The elephant then moved quickly to a vast corn field before running away, he recalled.

A local forest official in Mai Son confirmed to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the wild elephant showed up in the area the same day.

According to authorities, the elephant is a single, mature female which usually inhabits an area spanning Song Ma and Mai Son Districts in this northern mountainous province.

The authorities asked local residents not to harm or incite the elephant.

As of Wednesday at noon, the elephant was resting in the border area between Mai Son and Song Mai and had yet to cause any damage to crops or property.

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