TAKEO, Cambodia (Xinhua): Laos on Sunday handed over a pair of rare Asian elephants to Cambodia in order to further deepen the bond of friendship and solidarity between the two countries and peoples.
Linkham Douangsavanh, Lao minister of agriculture and forestry, delivered the mammals, a male and a female, to Dith Tina, Cambodian minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, at a ceremony held at the Phnom Tamao zoological, protected forest and botanical garden in southern Takeo province's Bati district.
Speaking at the event, Linkham said the elephants were a gift from Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith to Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni during Thongloun's state visit to Cambodia last month.
He said the male elephant is three years and seven months old, and the female one is three years and nine months old.
"The elephants are another symbol of long-lasting traditional friendship and solidarity between the two countries and peoples," he said.
For his part, Tina expressed his profound thanks to the government and people of Laos for donating the pair of elephants to Cambodia.
"This precious gift has opened a new chapter of history for our bilateral relations, especially in the conservation of the elephants," he said.
The Lao side also sent two mahouts to take care of the elephants for six months at the Phnom Tamao zoological, protected forest and botanical garden.
Listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are some of the largest mammals on the planet.
Cambodia estimates that there are currently 400 to 600 wild elephants in its natural forests, mainly in the Cardamom Mountains and eastern plains of Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri and Stung Treng provinces, and 75 domestic or captive elephants. Enditem
