Viet Nam News ĐẮK LẮK — As of this month, Yok Đôn National Park will no longer offer elephant riding for tourists visiting the Central Highland province of Đắk Lắk.
Under an agreement signed by the national park and Animals Asia Foundation on Friday, the park committed to develop an alternative tourism activity designed around watching elephants in social groups within an elephant sanctuary. This will help to move the region away from elephant-riding tourism towards an animal-friendly alternative.
The Animals Asia Foundation gave the national park US$65,000 to support the transition towards elephant watching tourism from July, 2018 to July, 2023.
The foundation will also send experts and staff to develop and maintain the alternative.
They will also help promote the new elephant tourism in the national park to the international community.
Phạm Tuấn Linh, vice director of the national park, said it started shifting from elephant riding to alternative activities step by step three years ago.
The alternative benefited not only the elephants but also their owners, tamers and local community.
“The animal welfare-friendly alternative is expected to help improve public awareness about wildlife conservation and promote new alternative tourism to domestic and international tourists,” he said.
Animals Asia Foundation’s Animal Welfare Director Dave Neale said that the transition to environmentally friendly tourism was a global trend.
In Việt Nam, Yok Đôn National Park is the first one to commit replacing the elephant riding practice with elephant watching, he said.
He added the transition was an opportunity for the national park to ensure welfare for elephants and attract visitors.
There are 45 captive elephants in Đắk Lắk Province. For years, elephant riding has been a popular tourism activity for visitors to the province. — VNS
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Welcome to Elephant News Vietnam. This site is intended to be a public service to those wishing to keep up to date with events and issues affecting elephants in Vietnam.
Showing posts with label elephant conservation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elephant conservation. Show all posts
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Sunday, May 06, 2018
Ivory seized by S’pore authorities in March to undergo DNA analysis
SINGAPORE — Efforts to analyse the DNA of 3.5 tonnes of ivory seized by the Singapore authorities in March are underway, and findings could help to pinpoint where the elephants were poached and shed greater light on ivory trafficking.
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said on Friday (May 4) it is working with an American conservation biologist known for his groundbreaking work using DNA – or deoxyribonucleic acid – to aid the conservation of elephants.
Populations of the largest land animal are in peril due to poaching and the illegal trade in ivory, and tens of thousands of elephants are reportedly slaughtered every year.
Dr Samuel Wasser and his team from the University of Washington visited Singapore last month and collected 253 samples of the tusks seized.
The AVA is also working with the United States’ Homeland Security Investigations, the Singapore government agency added.
The shipment, which was declared to contain groundnuts, originated from Nigeria and was to be re-exported to Vietnam. It was detained at the Pasir Panjang Scanning Station by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority on March 5.
The AVA inspected the container and found 61 bags containing 1,787 pieces of elephant ivory estimated to be worth about US$2.5 million (S$3.3 million). The AVA said in March that the importer was assisting with investigations.
Dr Wasser said: “The ivory we are sampling now was seized a month and a half ago. That’s the shortest time we’ve ever had between the seizure (being) made and us getting to sample it. By getting the information quick, we can have a greater effect in enforcement.”
DNA analysis takes three weeks from the time the samples arrive at the laboratory, he said. Countries may not release ivory seized to his team until cases are closed, which can be months or years later. But if brought in earlier, his team can help enforcement agencies to “build a better prosecution”, added Dr Wasser. Besides Singapore, his team has worked with authorities from countries such as Kenya, Mozambique, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Sri Lanka to collect samples of seized ivory.
To read the full article, click on the story title.
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Elephant donated to Dak Lak conservation centre
A tourism company in the central highlands has given an elephant to Dak Lak Province’s Centre for Elephant Conservation.
Director of Dak Lak Centre for Elephant Conservation Huynh Trung Luan confirmed on December 1 that they received a 55-year-old elephant named H’Blu from Phuong Nam Eco-tourism Company.
The female elephant has been given a health check-up before it was donated to the centre.
A centre representative said they also wanted to adopt two other elephants that are being raised by a household in Gia Lai Province and a tourism firm in Khanh Hoa Province.
“There are several individual elephants living in different provinces. We hope the households and firms that are raising those elephants will let us adopt them and give them a better living environment,” Luan said.
The number of elephant in Dak Lak Province has declined greatly. In 1980, the province has 502 elephants. But today has only has 45 elephants left, including H’Blu. About 19 domesticated elephants are over 40 years old and cannot breed anymore.
Elephant preservation work in Dak Lak has faced various difficulties. A domesticated elephant in Dak Lak gave birth to a baby on October 8, but the baby elephant soon died.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:https://www.talkvietnam.org/2017/12/elephant-donated-to-dak-lak-conservation-centre/
Director of Dak Lak Centre for Elephant Conservation Huynh Trung Luan confirmed on December 1 that they received a 55-year-old elephant named H’Blu from Phuong Nam Eco-tourism Company.
The female elephant has been given a health check-up before it was donated to the centre.
A centre representative said they also wanted to adopt two other elephants that are being raised by a household in Gia Lai Province and a tourism firm in Khanh Hoa Province.
“There are several individual elephants living in different provinces. We hope the households and firms that are raising those elephants will let us adopt them and give them a better living environment,” Luan said.
The number of elephant in Dak Lak Province has declined greatly. In 1980, the province has 502 elephants. But today has only has 45 elephants left, including H’Blu. About 19 domesticated elephants are over 40 years old and cannot breed anymore.
Elephant preservation work in Dak Lak has faced various difficulties. A domesticated elephant in Dak Lak gave birth to a baby on October 8, but the baby elephant soon died.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:https://www.talkvietnam.org/2017/12/elephant-donated-to-dak-lak-conservation-centre/
Tokyo woman, 77, leads charge to save elephants in Vietnam forest
Ethnic minority people and elephants have been living happily together like a family since back in the day in Vietnam's Yok Don National Park.
Elephants have been a great help for these people by carrying timber and doing farm work.
The biodiverse forest is also a home for wild elephants.
However, after the Vietnam War ended in 1975, many of the trees have been cut down to boost economic growth by harvesting timber.
Rampant elephant poaching for ivory is also threatening to wipe out one of the largest and most beautiful creatures on the planet.
A 77-year-old Japanese woman is inspiring local residents to protect the mammals.
“Destroying forests where elephants live will imperil human lives as well,"says Yoko Niimura, a former elementary school teacher who lives in Tokyo’s Kokubunji and has visited Vietnam since 2002 with the aim of protecting the elephants living in the Yok Don Forest.
Yok Don Forest, which straddles between Dak Lak province and Dak Nong province, is located in the heart of the nation.
It is believed that around 1,500 to 2,000 wild elephants lived in Dak Lak between 1975 to 1980, but the number had plunged to between 76 and 94 in 2004.
Niimura’s passion to protect elephants began after she encountered an elephant during a trip to Vietnam to take photographs after she had retired.
She was fascinated by the elephant striding strongly but calmly while carrying a mahout on its back.
She started taking photos of elephants and became aware of the harsh reality of the shrinking population of the animal, which have faced a risk of dying out.
She published a photo story book about the elephants in 2006 and established “Yok Don no Mori no kai,” a group to protect the creatures in the forest, in 2009.
The book was translated into Vietnamese by the group and 1,000 copies were donated to local children.
When she first set up the group to help the elephants, local people were not that bothered about their decline.
But now in the Yok Don Forest, an elephant conservation center has been established to protect elephants injured through poaching and to safeguard young elephants that have lost their parents.
To read the full article, click on the story title
Elephants have been a great help for these people by carrying timber and doing farm work.
The biodiverse forest is also a home for wild elephants.
However, after the Vietnam War ended in 1975, many of the trees have been cut down to boost economic growth by harvesting timber.
Rampant elephant poaching for ivory is also threatening to wipe out one of the largest and most beautiful creatures on the planet.
A 77-year-old Japanese woman is inspiring local residents to protect the mammals.
“Destroying forests where elephants live will imperil human lives as well,"says Yoko Niimura, a former elementary school teacher who lives in Tokyo’s Kokubunji and has visited Vietnam since 2002 with the aim of protecting the elephants living in the Yok Don Forest.
Yok Don Forest, which straddles between Dak Lak province and Dak Nong province, is located in the heart of the nation.
It is believed that around 1,500 to 2,000 wild elephants lived in Dak Lak between 1975 to 1980, but the number had plunged to between 76 and 94 in 2004.
Niimura’s passion to protect elephants began after she encountered an elephant during a trip to Vietnam to take photographs after she had retired.
She was fascinated by the elephant striding strongly but calmly while carrying a mahout on its back.
She started taking photos of elephants and became aware of the harsh reality of the shrinking population of the animal, which have faced a risk of dying out.
She published a photo story book about the elephants in 2006 and established “Yok Don no Mori no kai,” a group to protect the creatures in the forest, in 2009.
The book was translated into Vietnamese by the group and 1,000 copies were donated to local children.
When she first set up the group to help the elephants, local people were not that bothered about their decline.
But now in the Yok Don Forest, an elephant conservation center has been established to protect elephants injured through poaching and to safeguard young elephants that have lost their parents.
To read the full article, click on the story title
Friday, October 13, 2017
Domesticated elephant’s first baby dies
According to Huynh Trung Luan, director of the Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre, said that 38-year-old elephant H’Ban Nang gave birth to a 90-kilo male baby on the evening of October 8. The death was probably due to the prolonged labour.
Some months ago, owner Y Mu Bkrong announced that his elephant H'Ban Nang was pregnant, which was greeted as good news for elephant conservation. After that, H'Ban Nang was relieved from work to relax in a forested area far from people to await the birth.
The Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre made careful preparations for the birth in the support of international animal preservation experts. However, the baby died before being born.
Statistics from Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre showed that the number of domesticated elephants plummeted from 502 in 1980 to just 44 this year because of overwork, old age and clashes with wild elephants. 19 of the animals are too old and can't breed anymore.
Last year, the centre started a research project to improve the fertility rate among domesticated elephants. The owners will be informed when is the best time for breeding to match elephants together.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://thevietnamese.com/science-and-education/environment/308379-domesticated-elephant%E2%80%99s-first-baby-dies.html
Some months ago, owner Y Mu Bkrong announced that his elephant H'Ban Nang was pregnant, which was greeted as good news for elephant conservation. After that, H'Ban Nang was relieved from work to relax in a forested area far from people to await the birth.
The Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre made careful preparations for the birth in the support of international animal preservation experts. However, the baby died before being born.
Statistics from Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre showed that the number of domesticated elephants plummeted from 502 in 1980 to just 44 this year because of overwork, old age and clashes with wild elephants. 19 of the animals are too old and can't breed anymore.
Last year, the centre started a research project to improve the fertility rate among domesticated elephants. The owners will be informed when is the best time for breeding to match elephants together.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://thevietnamese.com/science-and-education/environment/308379-domesticated-elephant%E2%80%99s-first-baby-dies.html
Wednesday, October 04, 2017
Mysterious herd of elephants marches out of hiding in southern Vietnam
A previously unseen herd of elephants has been spotted in Vietnam's southern province of Dong Nai, according to forest management officials.
While it’s great news for conservation efforts, it could be a curse on the family of 15, which includes four calves.
Officials believe that this herd has never been seen before, because the herd they have been tracking in recent years is led by a different male and only has one or two calves.
There’s low chance that the animals have given birth to more calves in such a short time, they said.
The news of the herd has been covered widely by local media and hailed as good news for conservation efforts.
But officials familiar with wildlife protection in Vietnam said it's not always a blessing. Media coverage about incidents like this helps to raise awareness about the need for protection, but it also alerts poachers to the animals’ location.
Dong Nai started a VND74 billion ($3.25 million) project in 2013 to protect the giant animals from poaching and deadly encounters with farmers.
Part of the project is an electric fence erected three months ago to keep them away from farmland and residential areas. Officials said the fence only gives a slight shock to scare the animals and does not harm them.
Nine elephants have died in the province in the past seven years, and one person was killed during an encounter with the giant mammals.
According to figures from conservation organizations, Vietnam’s wild elephant population has shrunk by 95 percent since 1975 to less than 100. At least 23 wild elephants have died over the past seven years, and nearly 75 percent of them were less than a year old.
Experts said that plantations near their natural habitats are a major threat to their survival.
The U.S. government has pledged $24 million to help protect Vietnam’s last remaining elephants by conserving their habitat.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://posts.asia/science-and-education/nature-and-animals/309981-mysterious-herd-of-elephants-marches-out-of-hiding-in-southern-vietnam.html
While it’s great news for conservation efforts, it could be a curse on the family of 15, which includes four calves.
Officials believe that this herd has never been seen before, because the herd they have been tracking in recent years is led by a different male and only has one or two calves.
There’s low chance that the animals have given birth to more calves in such a short time, they said.
The news of the herd has been covered widely by local media and hailed as good news for conservation efforts.
But officials familiar with wildlife protection in Vietnam said it's not always a blessing. Media coverage about incidents like this helps to raise awareness about the need for protection, but it also alerts poachers to the animals’ location.
Dong Nai started a VND74 billion ($3.25 million) project in 2013 to protect the giant animals from poaching and deadly encounters with farmers.
Part of the project is an electric fence erected three months ago to keep them away from farmland and residential areas. Officials said the fence only gives a slight shock to scare the animals and does not harm them.
Nine elephants have died in the province in the past seven years, and one person was killed during an encounter with the giant mammals.
According to figures from conservation organizations, Vietnam’s wild elephant population has shrunk by 95 percent since 1975 to less than 100. At least 23 wild elephants have died over the past seven years, and nearly 75 percent of them were less than a year old.
Experts said that plantations near their natural habitats are a major threat to their survival.
The U.S. government has pledged $24 million to help protect Vietnam’s last remaining elephants by conserving their habitat.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://posts.asia/science-and-education/nature-and-animals/309981-mysterious-herd-of-elephants-marches-out-of-hiding-in-southern-vietnam.html
Sunday, October 01, 2017
Vietnam's 1st Domesticated Elephant in 30 Years to Be Born This Month
Despite predictions that Vietnam risks losing its entire elephant population within a decade, there is still hope as one elephant is set to give birth around the end of this month.
Ban Nang is the first domesticated elephant to become pregnant in thirty years in Vietnam. According to Dan Tri, owner Y Mu Bkrong announced that during her pregnancy, the 38-year-old elephant has been relieved of her working duties and moved to a quiet forested area to relax. She is likely to give birth naturally in the coming weeks.
Y Mu Bkrong also said that Ban Nang used to be cared for by another female elephant, H’Ban, who was relocated. However, the Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) made an arrangement with H’Ban’s new owner, and she has been hired as a nanny of sorts for Ban Nang. Last month, Y Mu Bkrong received US$7,500 to care for the elephants.
Deputy Director of the Dak Lak Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Dong claimed that this is “a positive sign for elephant conservation work.”
The future of Vietnam’s elephant population remains a lingering concern, as both wild and domesticated elephants are on the brink of extinction.
The Vietnam Elephant Initiative reported that only roughly 100 elephants remain in the country, about forty of which are wild spanning five different herds. The remaining sixty or so are held in captivity. “Genetic isolation, deforestation, and human-elephant conflict are serious problems in Vietnam and a continuous threat to the remaining populations of wild elephants.” Due to lack of education, many of the elephants suffer from poor health and dangerous solitary living conditions, as opposed to their natural inclination to live communally.
To read the full article, click on the story title
Ban Nang is the first domesticated elephant to become pregnant in thirty years in Vietnam. According to Dan Tri, owner Y Mu Bkrong announced that during her pregnancy, the 38-year-old elephant has been relieved of her working duties and moved to a quiet forested area to relax. She is likely to give birth naturally in the coming weeks.
Y Mu Bkrong also said that Ban Nang used to be cared for by another female elephant, H’Ban, who was relocated. However, the Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) made an arrangement with H’Ban’s new owner, and she has been hired as a nanny of sorts for Ban Nang. Last month, Y Mu Bkrong received US$7,500 to care for the elephants.
Deputy Director of the Dak Lak Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Dong claimed that this is “a positive sign for elephant conservation work.”
The future of Vietnam’s elephant population remains a lingering concern, as both wild and domesticated elephants are on the brink of extinction.
The Vietnam Elephant Initiative reported that only roughly 100 elephants remain in the country, about forty of which are wild spanning five different herds. The remaining sixty or so are held in captivity. “Genetic isolation, deforestation, and human-elephant conflict are serious problems in Vietnam and a continuous threat to the remaining populations of wild elephants.” Due to lack of education, many of the elephants suffer from poor health and dangerous solitary living conditions, as opposed to their natural inclination to live communally.
To read the full article, click on the story title
Thursday, September 28, 2017
First domesticated elephant to be born in Dak Lak after 30 years
Ban Nang is the first pregnant domesticated elephant in Dak Lak in 30 years.
Statistics from Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre show that the number of domesticated elephants plummeted from 502 in 1980 to just 44 this year because of overwork, old age and clashes with wild elephants. 19 of the animals are too old and can't breed anymore.
Last year, the centre started a research project to improve fertility rate in domesticated elephants. The owners will be informed when is the best time for breeding to match elephants together.
Recently, owner Y Mu Bkrong announced that his 38-year-old elephant, Ban Nang, was pregnant. She has been relieved from work to relax in a forested area far from people.
Ban Nang and her nanny, H'Ban cross a stream.
Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre have collaborated with the Asian Animal Foundation to send veterinarians and experts to consult and take care of Ban Nang. She is expected to give birth naturally at the end of September.
Ban Nang’s owner said the elephant was an orphan and taken care of by another female, H'Ban. But when Ban Nang grows up, H'Ban was already moved to a new home.
Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre recently discussed with H'Ban new owner and decided to spend VND10m (USD440) a month to hire H'Ban as a nanny for Ban Nang.
On August 29, Y Mu Bkrong was given VND171m (USD7,500) to take care of the elephant.
Vu Van Dong, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, "This is a positive sign for elephant conservation work. We'll closely monitor the elephant as she’s not very young."
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://posts.asia/science-and-education/environment/309152-first-domesticated-elephant-to-be-born-in-dak-lak-after-30-years.html
Statistics from Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre show that the number of domesticated elephants plummeted from 502 in 1980 to just 44 this year because of overwork, old age and clashes with wild elephants. 19 of the animals are too old and can't breed anymore.
Last year, the centre started a research project to improve fertility rate in domesticated elephants. The owners will be informed when is the best time for breeding to match elephants together.
Recently, owner Y Mu Bkrong announced that his 38-year-old elephant, Ban Nang, was pregnant. She has been relieved from work to relax in a forested area far from people.
Ban Nang and her nanny, H'Ban cross a stream.
Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre have collaborated with the Asian Animal Foundation to send veterinarians and experts to consult and take care of Ban Nang. She is expected to give birth naturally at the end of September.
Ban Nang’s owner said the elephant was an orphan and taken care of by another female, H'Ban. But when Ban Nang grows up, H'Ban was already moved to a new home.
Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre recently discussed with H'Ban new owner and decided to spend VND10m (USD440) a month to hire H'Ban as a nanny for Ban Nang.
On August 29, Y Mu Bkrong was given VND171m (USD7,500) to take care of the elephant.
Vu Van Dong, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, "This is a positive sign for elephant conservation work. We'll closely monitor the elephant as she’s not very young."
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://posts.asia/science-and-education/environment/309152-first-domesticated-elephant-to-be-born-in-dak-lak-after-30-years.html
Sunday, September 10, 2017
US pledges $24 million to protect Vietnam's last remaining elephants
Keeping people away from the giant mammals and their habitat is the only chance they have of survival.
The U.S. government has promised $24 million to the central province of Quang Nam to support elephant conservation efforts after multiple sightings of what is thought to be the last remaining herd left in the wild.
The money will be directed through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Ambassador Ted Osius said during a visit to the rural province on Thursday to attend the agriculture ministry’s opening of an elephant reserve.
The reserve covers nearly 19,000 hectares (47,000 acres) in Nong Son District, where elephants and their tracks have been spotted many times in recent years.
Since 2011, locals have been reporting sightings of elephants, some alive and others killed by poachers, as well as their footprints.
In 2015, when Quang Nam was zoned off to become part of an urgent elephant conservation program, a team of experts arrived and reported a herd of seven elephants with male, female and juvenile members.
A similar herd was spotted near houses on the edge of the forest in January and July this year.
“On one occasion, the elephants were just 50 meters from us. Their trumpeting was as loud as truck horns,” a local man said.
To read the full article, click on the story title
The U.S. government has promised $24 million to the central province of Quang Nam to support elephant conservation efforts after multiple sightings of what is thought to be the last remaining herd left in the wild.
The money will be directed through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Ambassador Ted Osius said during a visit to the rural province on Thursday to attend the agriculture ministry’s opening of an elephant reserve.
The reserve covers nearly 19,000 hectares (47,000 acres) in Nong Son District, where elephants and their tracks have been spotted many times in recent years.
Since 2011, locals have been reporting sightings of elephants, some alive and others killed by poachers, as well as their footprints.
In 2015, when Quang Nam was zoned off to become part of an urgent elephant conservation program, a team of experts arrived and reported a herd of seven elephants with male, female and juvenile members.
A similar herd was spotted near houses on the edge of the forest in January and July this year.
“On one occasion, the elephants were just 50 meters from us. Their trumpeting was as loud as truck horns,” a local man said.
To read the full article, click on the story title
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Joint efforts called for to protect last wild elephants in Vietnam
The diplomat made the statement while addressing a talk held by the US Embassy in Hanoi, on August 11, in response to World Elephant day (August 12), under the theme “Please treat elephants well”.
In attendance at the event were Nguyen Dao Ngoc Van and Alegria Olmedo from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Rose Indenbaum from TRAFFIC, and Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung from Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV).
During the talk, delegates called for greater attention to elephants and their difficult living conditions, whilst discussing possible ways to preserve the last 100 wild elephants that remain in Vietnam.
The event enabled participants to understand more about the ways in which they could tackle the threats to elephants, through voluntarily joining wildlife organisations, supporting wildlife preservation efforts and raising awareness of the elephants’ struggle for survival.
Earlier on August 10, the US Embassy screened a film entitled “Ivory Game”, a documentary film featuring illegal elephant ivory trade, from the moment the elephant was poached in Africa to the moment when the elephant ivories were sold illegally in Asia.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://vietnam.mynews.club/news/joint-efforts-called-for-to-protect-last-wild-elephants-in-vietnam.html
In attendance at the event were Nguyen Dao Ngoc Van and Alegria Olmedo from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Rose Indenbaum from TRAFFIC, and Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung from Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV).
During the talk, delegates called for greater attention to elephants and their difficult living conditions, whilst discussing possible ways to preserve the last 100 wild elephants that remain in Vietnam.
The event enabled participants to understand more about the ways in which they could tackle the threats to elephants, through voluntarily joining wildlife organisations, supporting wildlife preservation efforts and raising awareness of the elephants’ struggle for survival.
Earlier on August 10, the US Embassy screened a film entitled “Ivory Game”, a documentary film featuring illegal elephant ivory trade, from the moment the elephant was poached in Africa to the moment when the elephant ivories were sold illegally in Asia.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://vietnam.mynews.club/news/joint-efforts-called-for-to-protect-last-wild-elephants-in-vietnam.html
Monday, May 15, 2017
Elephants die of starvation in Vietnamese
Several elephants that were used to serve tourists in central highlands Dak Lak Province have died for unknown reasons while grazing in the forest.
On June 27, the Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre said local people had found the body of an elephant at the Yon Don National Park in Buon Don District. The elephant’s body was already decomposing.
After investigation, local authorities in Buon Don District found that the dead elephant was a 40-year-old female named H’Yaly. It is under the management of Y Bich Nie, a local man from Krong Na Commune’s EaMar Highlands Village.
The elephant is estimated to have been dead for around one month. No injuries were found on the body. It’s likely that the elephant died of starvation.
The elephant’s owner, Y Bich, said, “I released the elephant to the forest to graze on May 30. However, it had not returned by June 24, so we decided to go into the forest to look for it. There we found its body.”
To read the full article, click on the story title
On June 27, the Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre said local people had found the body of an elephant at the Yon Don National Park in Buon Don District. The elephant’s body was already decomposing.
After investigation, local authorities in Buon Don District found that the dead elephant was a 40-year-old female named H’Yaly. It is under the management of Y Bich Nie, a local man from Krong Na Commune’s EaMar Highlands Village.
The elephant is estimated to have been dead for around one month. No injuries were found on the body. It’s likely that the elephant died of starvation.
The elephant’s owner, Y Bich, said, “I released the elephant to the forest to graze on May 30. However, it had not returned by June 24, so we decided to go into the forest to look for it. There we found its body.”
To read the full article, click on the story title
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Measures proposed to conserve wild elephants in Dong Nai
There are 14 elephants living in an area of some 53,000 hectares in Vinh Cuu, Dinh Quan and Tan Phu districts, according to the province’s forest protection division.
Le Viet Dung, deputy head of the division, suggested two plans to prevent consanguineous mating among the elephants. The first is to ask for the Vietnam Administration of Forestry’s permission to bring some elephants in other localities to Dong Nai to mate with local ones.
The other plan is promoting international cooperation in the work, he said, elaborating that Dong Nai can mate its elephants with others in regional countries.
The elephant herd in Dong Nai was seen most recently in Thanh Son commune of Dinh Quan district in late March.
Local residents said the animals often come to their farms to find food, destroying a large area of fruit trees such as mango, cashew, banana and sugar cane.
The forest protection division is carrying out an emergency elephant conservation project with a total cost of 85 billion VND (3.75 million USD).
Accordingly, about 50km of electric fence will be built in Tan Phu, Dinh Quan and Vinh Cuu districts to prevent the conflict between elephants and human.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/environment/176343/measures-proposed-to-conserve-wild-elephants-in-dong-nai.html
Le Viet Dung, deputy head of the division, suggested two plans to prevent consanguineous mating among the elephants. The first is to ask for the Vietnam Administration of Forestry’s permission to bring some elephants in other localities to Dong Nai to mate with local ones.
The other plan is promoting international cooperation in the work, he said, elaborating that Dong Nai can mate its elephants with others in regional countries.
The elephant herd in Dong Nai was seen most recently in Thanh Son commune of Dinh Quan district in late March.
Local residents said the animals often come to their farms to find food, destroying a large area of fruit trees such as mango, cashew, banana and sugar cane.
The forest protection division is carrying out an emergency elephant conservation project with a total cost of 85 billion VND (3.75 million USD).
Accordingly, about 50km of electric fence will be built in Tan Phu, Dinh Quan and Vinh Cuu districts to prevent the conflict between elephants and human.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/environment/176343/measures-proposed-to-conserve-wild-elephants-in-dong-nai.html
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Wild elephants spotted in Quang Nam
Tran Van Sang, Chairman of Nong Son District’s Que Lam People’s Committee, said that many people in Cam La Village saw the elephants near their fields after the Tet holiday. They shot a short video clip and took photos of the elephants to report their presence to local authorities.
The herd, which includes a small elephant, has been seen in Cam La Village’s forest area many times, worrying people.
Sang said that the commune warned local people not to bother the elephants.
They are also provided with some skills to safely drive the elephants away.
According to the Vietnam Administration of Forestry, Nong Son District is one of 15 areas in the country that still have populations of wild elephants. Earlier, Quang Nam Province submitted a proposal to the administration to establish an elephant conservation site in the district, aiming to help conserve the wild population and reduce human-elephant conflicts.
The Vietnam Administration of Forestry’s Environment Conservation Department said that wild elephant population in Vietnam has been on the fall because of loss of habitat and poaching.
In natural forests, there is not enough food for them to survive and so they have to move to the surrounding cultivated areas to forage for food, sparking off conflicts with humans, he said.
The department estimates that there are around 100 wild elephants in the country.
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The herd, which includes a small elephant, has been seen in Cam La Village’s forest area many times, worrying people.
Sang said that the commune warned local people not to bother the elephants.
They are also provided with some skills to safely drive the elephants away.
According to the Vietnam Administration of Forestry, Nong Son District is one of 15 areas in the country that still have populations of wild elephants. Earlier, Quang Nam Province submitted a proposal to the administration to establish an elephant conservation site in the district, aiming to help conserve the wild population and reduce human-elephant conflicts.
The Vietnam Administration of Forestry’s Environment Conservation Department said that wild elephant population in Vietnam has been on the fall because of loss of habitat and poaching.
In natural forests, there is not enough food for them to survive and so they have to move to the surrounding cultivated areas to forage for food, sparking off conflicts with humans, he said.
The department estimates that there are around 100 wild elephants in the country.
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Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Elephants in Dak Lak become more aggressive as loss of habitat continues
According to the Dak Lak provincial Elephant Conservation Center, there are five groups of elephants living in the province, with 60-70 in each group.
In Ea Sup district alone, there is one group of 30-34, while in Buon Don district, there are four groups with 30-36 elephants each.
A survey conducted by the center found that the number of elephant groups in Dak Lak has decreased.
A survey conducted by the center found that the number of elephant groups in Dak Lak has decreased.
Problems that threaten the sustainability of the elephants have also been identified, including an imbalance in the age structure and the ratio of male/female elephants.
The overwhelming majority of the elephants are old, while there are few young and mature individuals and more females than males. The factors will make it difficult to implement an elephant protection and conservation project.
To read the full article, click on the story title
In Ea Sup district alone, there is one group of 30-34, while in Buon Don district, there are four groups with 30-36 elephants each.
A survey conducted by the center found that the number of elephant groups in Dak Lak has decreased.
A survey conducted by the center found that the number of elephant groups in Dak Lak has decreased.
Problems that threaten the sustainability of the elephants have also been identified, including an imbalance in the age structure and the ratio of male/female elephants.
The overwhelming majority of the elephants are old, while there are few young and mature individuals and more females than males. The factors will make it difficult to implement an elephant protection and conservation project.
To read the full article, click on the story title
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Quang Nam province to spend over VND128 billion for elephant conservation
The Quang Nam provincial People’s Committee has adopted the establishment of an elephant conservation project on an area of nearly 19,000 hectares in Phuoc Ninh and Que Lam communes, Nong Son district.
Accordingly, the conservation area includes 23 sub-zones, including over 13,400 hectares of strict protection, over 5,500 hectares of the ecological recovery, and nearly 25,000 hectares of buffer zone, which lies in 22 villages in 5 districts.
Le Tri Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Quang Nam provincial People’s Committee, stressed that the establishment of the elephant conservation aims to conserve and develop the Asian elephant species in Vietnam, contributing to realizing the Government’s targets in protecting the environment and biodiversity, and sustainably developing wildlife resources.
Quang Nam province plans to protect, maintain and develop a population of 5-7 elephant individuals living in the locality, safeguard their living habitat, and restore and develop living environment and food to receive single elephant individuals from other areas.
The project will use over VND128 billion until 2030./.
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Accordingly, the conservation area includes 23 sub-zones, including over 13,400 hectares of strict protection, over 5,500 hectares of the ecological recovery, and nearly 25,000 hectares of buffer zone, which lies in 22 villages in 5 districts.
Le Tri Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Quang Nam provincial People’s Committee, stressed that the establishment of the elephant conservation aims to conserve and develop the Asian elephant species in Vietnam, contributing to realizing the Government’s targets in protecting the environment and biodiversity, and sustainably developing wildlife resources.
Quang Nam province plans to protect, maintain and develop a population of 5-7 elephant individuals living in the locality, safeguard their living habitat, and restore and develop living environment and food to receive single elephant individuals from other areas.
The project will use over VND128 billion until 2030./.
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Thursday, March 16, 2017
Dozens of elephants exhausted after Tet holiday overworking
Over 40 elephants in Dak Lak Province have been left exhausted after being forced to overwork through the lunar new year holiday period.
Le Thi Thanh Ha, director of Ban Don Eco-tourism Company, said it received 7,000 visitors this Tet and 70% of them wanted to ride elephants. Over 40 elephants were used at various well-known destinations in Dak Lak.
About 30,000 visitors arrived in Buon Don tourism site and most of them wanted to ride elephants. Dozens of people queued up in order to ride the elephants along the Serepok River. 15 elephants had to move around non-stop to meet demand. Several elephants were too tired and didn’t want to go to the forest again, they were poked by the trainers. Each elephant carried three to four visitors as they walked slowly from exhaustion.
“When they are stubborn, I use this iron bar to poke them. They immediately follow my order,” one trainer said.
Nguyen Phuong Nam, a visitor from HCM City said, “We came here to ride the elephant and with VND200,000 (USD9) our family had one ride with some photos. But next time we won’t ride the elephant anymore. It looked tired and pitiful.”
To read the full article, click on the story title
Le Thi Thanh Ha, director of Ban Don Eco-tourism Company, said it received 7,000 visitors this Tet and 70% of them wanted to ride elephants. Over 40 elephants were used at various well-known destinations in Dak Lak.
About 30,000 visitors arrived in Buon Don tourism site and most of them wanted to ride elephants. Dozens of people queued up in order to ride the elephants along the Serepok River. 15 elephants had to move around non-stop to meet demand. Several elephants were too tired and didn’t want to go to the forest again, they were poked by the trainers. Each elephant carried three to four visitors as they walked slowly from exhaustion.
“When they are stubborn, I use this iron bar to poke them. They immediately follow my order,” one trainer said.
Nguyen Phuong Nam, a visitor from HCM City said, “We came here to ride the elephant and with VND200,000 (USD9) our family had one ride with some photos. But next time we won’t ride the elephant anymore. It looked tired and pitiful.”
To read the full article, click on the story title
Thursday, March 02, 2017
Experts emphasize elephant conservation
VietNamNet Bridge – Only around 100 wild elephants, and an additional 60 in captivity, remain in Viet Nam, with most living in Dak Lak, Dong Nai and Nghe An provinces, a conference on elephant conservation heard on Wednesday.
At the three-day event in the Central Highland province of Dak Lak, which ends on Friday, the Viet Nam Administration of Forestry said elephants in the country face a high risk of extinction. According to the agency, the natural habitat for elephants is diminishing; resulting in an increased number of clashes between the animals and humans, while the poaching of elephants for their tusks continues. The domesticated elephants are aging and not a single one has reproduced over the last few years.
To address the situation, the Vietnamese Government has issued several policies aimed at preserving the domestic elephant herd, including a master plan for 2013-2020.
Deputy Director General of the Viet Nam Administration of Forestry, Cao Chi Cong, said he hoped managers and experts would share their experiences and propose solutions to protect and develop the elephant population in Viet Nam.
At the three-day event in the Central Highland province of Dak Lak, which ends on Friday, the Viet Nam Administration of Forestry said elephants in the country face a high risk of extinction. According to the agency, the natural habitat for elephants is diminishing; resulting in an increased number of clashes between the animals and humans, while the poaching of elephants for their tusks continues. The domesticated elephants are aging and not a single one has reproduced over the last few years.
To address the situation, the Vietnamese Government has issued several policies aimed at preserving the domestic elephant herd, including a master plan for 2013-2020.
Deputy Director General of the Viet Nam Administration of Forestry, Cao Chi Cong, said he hoped managers and experts would share their experiences and propose solutions to protect and develop the elephant population in Viet Nam.
To read the full article, click on the story title
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Vietnam's Elephants on the Brink of Extinction
A conservation center in Dak Lak province in the Central Highlands may be Vietnam's last hope to save its elephants.
AFP reports on the Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Center, which aims to create a small herd of elephants in order to build a sustainable population.
According to the news source, the country's elephant population is an extremely precarious position. Fewer than 100 animals remain in the wild, while around 80 are in captivity. In 1980, up to 2,000 elephants roamed the country, National Geographic shares.
Tuan Bendixsen, director of Animals Asia Vietnam, tells AFP that "at the rate they're going now, within a generation or so we'll probably lose the elephants."
He goes on: "As the number gets smaller and smaller, it's going to be harder and harder for the elephants to hang on."
Human development has cut off breeding routes for the wild pachyderms, severely hurting their ability to reproduce, the news source reports, while poaching and habitat loss have wiped out most of the population. Even captive elephants struggle to breed since they spend their days chained up waiting to serve tourists.
To read the full article, click on the story title
AFP reports on the Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Center, which aims to create a small herd of elephants in order to build a sustainable population.
According to the news source, the country's elephant population is an extremely precarious position. Fewer than 100 animals remain in the wild, while around 80 are in captivity. In 1980, up to 2,000 elephants roamed the country, National Geographic shares.
Tuan Bendixsen, director of Animals Asia Vietnam, tells AFP that "at the rate they're going now, within a generation or so we'll probably lose the elephants."
He goes on: "As the number gets smaller and smaller, it's going to be harder and harder for the elephants to hang on."
Human development has cut off breeding routes for the wild pachyderms, severely hurting their ability to reproduce, the news source reports, while poaching and habitat loss have wiped out most of the population. Even captive elephants struggle to breed since they spend their days chained up waiting to serve tourists.
To read the full article, click on the story title
Friday, January 06, 2017
Declining forested land triggers elephant conflict
The continual erosion of forested land by local people has narrowed the living space for elephants in Dong Nai Province, leading to more conflict. In addition, the province’s elephant conservation project has still proceeded at a very slow pace.
Between 2009 and 2011, up to nine elephants died in the southern province of Dong Nai, which were initially suspected of being killed by people.
Recently, the only elephant in Tan Phu protective forest was also killed.
According to the forest management board, for many years, the elephants have destroyed sugarcane and crops grown by people.
Conservationists warned that if more elephants continue to be killed, the species faces extinction in Dong Nai.
Local people often use traditional methods to drive elephants away such as setting fire on cloths soaked with petrol or throwing small gas tank into them to cause explosions. However, these actions have made elephants more aggressive, which results in more conflicts with people.
To read the full article, click on the story title
Between 2009 and 2011, up to nine elephants died in the southern province of Dong Nai, which were initially suspected of being killed by people.
Recently, the only elephant in Tan Phu protective forest was also killed.
According to the forest management board, for many years, the elephants have destroyed sugarcane and crops grown by people.
Conservationists warned that if more elephants continue to be killed, the species faces extinction in Dong Nai.
Local people often use traditional methods to drive elephants away such as setting fire on cloths soaked with petrol or throwing small gas tank into them to cause explosions. However, these actions have made elephants more aggressive, which results in more conflicts with people.
To read the full article, click on the story title
Vietnam launches last ditch effort to save its wild elephants
The giant mammals will disappear from the country forever unless poaching is stopped and their habitat is preserved.
International conservationists and Vietnamese forest management officials on Wednesday kicked off an urgent action plan to protect the country’s last wild elephants that involves better monitoring and law enforcement.
Around 60 elephants in Yok Don National Park, some of the last left in the wild in Vietnam, face constant threats from poaching and deforestation. As their habitat has shrunk, they have also come into conflict with farmers in the area.
The plan includes training for forest rangers, camera traps to monitor the population and educating locals about the animal’s movements to prevent clashes, according to a WWF press release.
The rangers will use a SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) system, a data collection tool used at many nature reserves across the world, including the provinces of Quang Nam and Thua Thien-Hue in central Vietnam.
To read the full article, click on the story title
International conservationists and Vietnamese forest management officials on Wednesday kicked off an urgent action plan to protect the country’s last wild elephants that involves better monitoring and law enforcement.
Around 60 elephants in Yok Don National Park, some of the last left in the wild in Vietnam, face constant threats from poaching and deforestation. As their habitat has shrunk, they have also come into conflict with farmers in the area.
The plan includes training for forest rangers, camera traps to monitor the population and educating locals about the animal’s movements to prevent clashes, according to a WWF press release.
The rangers will use a SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) system, a data collection tool used at many nature reserves across the world, including the provinces of Quang Nam and Thua Thien-Hue in central Vietnam.
To read the full article, click on the story title
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