PHNOM PENH: The Airavata Khmer Elephant Foundation, which cares for the last surviving domestic elephants in Ratanakkiri province, will work more closely with the Ministry of Tourism to help protect the remaining animals and promote the province’s eco-tourism potential.
The new cooperation was announced during a working meeting between Minister of Tourism Hout Hak and Men Nearyvudthy Ho Sithi, honorary vice-president of the foundation.
An Aug 7 ministry statement said the meeting focused on the foundation’s activities, an exchange of ideas and closer cooperation to promote eco-tourism in Ratanakkiri through the conservation of domestic elephants.
The vice-president briefed the minister on the foundation’s work, including its success in breeding calves. At present, the foundation is caring for four elephants — two adult males, one adult female and one calf.
The foundation is also contributing to eco-tourism development in the area by encouraging both domestic and international visitors to travel, enjoy leisure activities and interact directly with the elephants — thus helping raise public awareness.
The minister praised the foundation’s dedication, especially in conserving the rare domestic elephants, noting that they also contribute to creating new, high-value tourism products in line with the policies of the government.
“The ministry is pleased to provide cooperation to help promote the conservation of elephant species and the potential for eco-tourism in the region, in order to attract awareness and participation from citizens of all ages and from everywhere to participate in the conservation of elephants and all wildlife,” the minister said.
The new cooperation will also help maintain Cambodia’s beautiful and breathtaking eco-tourism areas in the northeastern part of the country to be sustainable and inclusive, he added.
Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra has also been appointed an honorary president of the foundation.
In a January meeting with the foundation’s board members, Pheaktra noted that there are currently only around 70 domestic elephants being cared for in various parts of Cambodia — an extremely small number compared to the Kingdom’s estimated 400–600 wild elephants.
As an honorary president, he called on philanthropists to continue supporting the foundation so it can strengthen and expand its conservation work — particularly its efforts to increase the breeding of domestic elephants. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
