Soon a thing of the past: Tourists riding an elephant at the Yok Don National Park in Dak Lak province. — Vietnam News/ANN
The Central Highlands province will spend more than US$2.2mil (RM9.8mil) to convert the model of elephant-riding to elephant-friendly tourism.
The work aims at preserving elephant herds.
Tran Xuan Phuroc, director of the Dak Lak 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 Buon Don and Lak 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 Dak Lak 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. — Vietnam News/ANN
