08:33, 14/05/2023
With the goal of not letting the domesticated elephants become extinct, Dak Lak province has professionalized elephant conservation with specific policies. However, preserving and developing the elephant herd is not an easy story.
Professionalization
Elephant conservation in the province has really received attention since the Elephant Conservation Center was established in 2011. Along with that, the Provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 78/2012/NQ-HDND, dated December 21, 2012, on regulating a number of elephant conservation policies in Dak Lak province. Thanks to that, up to now, elephant conservation has basically become professional and achieved some initial results, modern facilities and equipment serve well for conservation work; there is a team of experienced engineers and veterinarians; a system of legal documents on elephant conservation has been built; propaganda has helped raise people's awareness of the importance of elephants as well as conservation work. In addition, it has attracted the interest and support of many international organizations such as: Animals Asia, Elephant Care International, Wildlife Welfare Organization, World Wildlife Fund, North Carolina Zoo (USA), Rotterdam Zoo (Netherlands), Thai Elephant Conservation Center...
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| Domestic elephant of a household in Lak district. |
The Dak Lak Elephant Conservation, Animal Rescue and Forest Management and Protection Center is currently managing and caring for 5 domesticated wild elephants and organizations and individuals who have transferred them. Since 2012, the center has treated more than 200 sudden cases and conducted periodic health checks for domesticated elephants, thereby detecting and treating many cases that previously could have caused elephants to die from intestinal infections, tuberculosis, etc.
In addition, since 2004, Animals Asia (AFF) has cooperated with Dak Lak province in elephant conservation by introducing and sending international elephant care experts to examine the health of elephants; providing advice on elephant care and management techniques and improving infrastructure. To date, AFF has intervened in the welfare of 12 elephants, of which 6 elephants are participating in the elephant-friendly experience model at Yok Don National Park. In addition to funding, AFF also has many educational activities, raising awareness about elephant care and better welfare for elephants; at the same time, implementing educational programs, targeting students in Buon Don district to raise awareness of protecting elephants - the pride of Dak Lak for future generations.
Worrying about elephants not giving birth
In recent times, the number of domesticated elephants in Dak Lak has decreased sharply. The number of domesticated elephants in Dak Lak has decreased from about 502 individuals in the early 1980s to 36 individuals as of 2023. Most of the domesticated elephants are now old, have limited welfare and lack opportunities to express natural behavior, are overused by humans and have short lifespans... It is worth mentioning that for a long time, no baby elephants have been born from these domesticated elephants, and in the future they will become extinct if there are no specific and appropriate conservation measures. The number of domesticated female elephants is currently 19 individuals, of which 14 are over 40 years old and the remaining 5 are also nearly 40 years old. For Asian elephants, they have a lifespan of about 50 - 60 years, elephants mature and begin to reproduce at about 12 - 15 years old. According to research by scientists around the world, the appropriate reproductive age for domesticated elephants is from 13 to 28 years old, so Dak Lak elephants are no longer in reproductive age. From 2016 to 2020, the Dak Lak Elephant Conservation, Animal Rescue and Forest Management and Protection Center has implemented the scientific project "Research on reproductive ability on domesticated elephants (Elephas maximus) in Dak Lak province". As a result, 3 female elephants became pregnant and gave birth, however, all 3 baby elephants died after birth, despite the application of advanced support measures and active assistance from international experts. The reason is that the mother elephants are all old and giving birth for the first time, leading to the baby elephant being stuck in the vagina during the birth process.
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| Elephants are rescued, raised and cared for by the Dak Lak Elephant Conservation, Animal Rescue and Forest Management and Protection Center. |
Mr. Tran Xuan Phuoc, Director of the Dak Lak Elephant Conservation, Animal Rescue and Forest Management and Protection Center, said that effective elephant conservation is actually not a simple matter. To develop and maintain the domestic elephant herd, elephants must reproduce, so the Center has requested permission to import young female elephants from countries in the Asian region such as Myanmar, Thailand, etc. However, it has not been possible to do so yet due to many barriers because elephants are group IB animals and many other related issues. The Center will continue to promote this policy because it is the most feasible solution to help elephants reproduce. Along with that, the unit will perform well the professional work, health care, examination and treatment of diseases for domesticated elephants; monitor wild elephants, prevent conflicts between elephants and humans, propagate and mobilize people; carry out international cooperation well, elephant projects; At the same time, exploiting elephant-friendly tourism to free up labor, improve health and longevity for elephants...
| Recently, authorities have continuously recorded the deaths of many elephants. Specifically, at the end of March 2023, elephant H' Plul owned by Anh Duong VN Joint Stock Company was found dead in Lot 8, Block 4, Sub-area 478, a forest area under the management of this enterprise. A month earlier, a male elephant named Rok, born in 1989, died in the elephant care area in Block 4, Sub-area 462 - Center for Elephant Conservation, Animal Rescue and Forest Management and Protection. |
Minh Chi
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