DONG NAI: The southern province of Dong Nai is launching wild elephant-watching tours as part of a broader strategy to promote sustainable tourism and wildlife conservation.
Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, Nguyen Thi Hoang, has tasked relevant departments with studying the feasibility of the project and advising on how to attract investors.
The proposed initiative would be based at the Dong Nai Nature and Cultural Conservation Area and aims not only to enhance tourism offerings but also to generate revenue for reinvestment and to improve the elephants’ habitat.
Recognising the potential of this direction, the province has assigned the Department of Agriculture and Environment to lead coordination efforts with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Department of Justice, elephant conservation experts and other stakeholders.
These groups will review existing legal frameworks, assess the current habitat conditions and evaluate the success of similar models both in Vietnam and abroad. Once consensus is reached, they will submit recommendations to the provincial government for further action.
The idea was first proposed by the Dong Nai Nature and Cultural Conservation Area, which requested approval to seek investment for the project. The goal is to create favourable conditions for reinvestment and to restore and enhance the elephants’ dedicated habitat.
Dong Nai is home to Việt Nam’s second-largest population of wild elephants, with an estimated herd of 25 to 27 individuals, including calves. These elephants roam across forested areas within Cat Tien National Park, the Dong Nai Nature and Cultural Conservation Area and the La Nga Forestry One-Member Limited Liability Company. - Vietnam News/ANN
