Đắk Lắk spends more than $2.2 million to end elephant rides

November 28, 2022 - 08:01
Trần Xuân Phước, director of the Đắk Lắk Centre for Elephant Conservation, Animal Rescue and Forest Protection Management, said the centre would implement the project.
Tourists ride an elephant to visit the Yok Đôn National Park in Đắk Lắk Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

ĐẮK LẮK — The Đắk Lắk Central Highlands province will spend more than VNĐ55.4 billion (US$2.2 million) to convert the model of elephant-riding to elephant-friendly tourism.

The work aims at preserving elephant herds.

Trần Xuân Phước, director of the Đắk Lắk Centre for Elephant Conservation, Animal Rescue and Forest Protection Management, said the centre would implement the project approved by the provincial People’s Committee.

The project is scheduled to be conducted from November 2022 to December 2026 with a sponsor from the Animal Asia Foundation (AAF).

It will be conducted in Buôn Đôn and Lắk districts.

The project aims to replace elephant riding tourism with a friendly tourism model.

Under the project, elephant herds will be preserved and looked after.

Elephant owners will be compensated for their lack of income.

Tourism centres will receive technical support to transform into an elephant-friendly tourism model.

Education and awareness-raising activities on elephant protection and conservation will be given to the community.

Statistics of the Đắk Lắk Centre for Elephant Conservation, Animal Rescue and Forest Protection Management show that from 2009 to 2021, 22 elephants in the province died due to different reasons.

The province currently has 37 elephants in Lắk and Buôn Đôn districts. — VNS

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