Fate with rare animals
In mid-October, our reporters went to Phu An Elephant Coffee and Weasel Coffee right at Dinh An Toll Station (Duc Trong District, Lam Dong Province). However, we did not come here to drink coffee, but to meet the veterinarian who owns the only two “kings of the jungle” in Lam Dong.
Met Mr. Phan Dac Mau Dai (46 years old, Hiep An commune, Duc Trong district) when he was checking the animals on his farm, which is considered his family zoo after 13 years of relationship. Here, Mr. Dai is taking care of and preserving many rare animals such as tigers, elephants, gibbons, grizzlies, etc.
Mr. Phan Dac Mau Dai with two elephants being cared for and preserved on his farm.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Dai said that in 1997, he graduated from intermediate level of Veterinary Medicine and was accepted to work at a tourism company in Lam Dong. After that, Mr. Dai continued to study Veterinary Medicine at Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry. It was this major that made him "fated" with the profession of rescuing, raising and preserving rare animals as he is today.
“In 2002, I was still doing my daily job of examining the animals in the company where I worked. Then, a person from another tourist area came to offer to help them treat an old elephant with intestinal problems. This person also mentioned that as long as they could save the elephant, money was no problem.
I accepted and went with them to see what was going on. After examining the elephant, I determined the elephant’s illness and promised to cure it in 5 days. However, I cured the elephant in just 3 days and the elephant owner paid me 50 million VND, equivalent to 7 taels of gold at that time,” Mr. Dai recalled.
7 elephants are being taken care of by Mr. Dai on a farm in Hiep An commune, Duc Trong district, Lam Dong province.
Thanks to the above money, Mr. Dai had the opportunity to buy land, build a house, and stabilize his life in Hiep An commune, Duc Trong district.
Three years later, an elephant in Dak Lak also fell ill and was treated by Mr. Dai. When he learned that the elephant’s owner wanted to transfer the elephant, Mr. Dai offered to buy it and prepared 100 million VND to buy back the elephant. After completing the transfer procedures, Mr. Dai brought the elephant to Lam Dong to take care of it. However, it was very difficult for Mr. Dai to approach the newly purchased elephant.
Elephants are also cared for for tourists to visit and take pictures.
Taking reporters to the elephants on his farm, Mr. Dai shared: “After being unable to access the elephants, I contacted the previous elephant caretaker in Dak Lak for support. After many conversations, this person revealed to me that the elephant I bought was blind in both eyes. I was shocked and surprised when I learned the truth, but when it was too late, I hired them to go to Lam Dong to continue taking care of the elephant.
Gradually, the elephant I took care of got used to the smell, got used to the new place and became healthy. Currently, this elephant is living with 7 other elephants on the farm."
The only tiger farm in Lam Dong
Witnessing with my own eyes animals such as tigers, elephants, pythons, gibbons, bears, etc. being carefully cared for on the farm, the reporter could see the dedication of Mr. Phan Dac Mau Dai. All animals are cared for in separate areas, with a scientific regime set forth by Mr. Dai himself.
In 2005, when Mr. Dai brought the blind elephant from Dak Lak to Lam Dong, he also decided to quit his job at the travel company he was working for. After that, he switched to growing coffee and doing real estate. From there, Mr. Dai's idea of building a family zoo emerged and gradually became a reality.
Mr. Dai next to the cage raising the only two "kings of the jungle" in Lam Dong.
Since then, Mr. Dai has repeatedly “rescued” rare animals such as tigers and elephants in many places. Currently, on his 10-hectare farm, Mr. Dai is taking care of 7 elephants of different ages. In particular, he is taking care of and preserving the only 2 tigers in Lam Dong. These are two tigers that he bought from a zoo in Ho Chi Minh City.
“In 2010, a zoo in Ho Chi Minh City had difficulty caring for and preserving two tigers. When I heard the news, I went to investigate and determined that the two tigers were still healthy and eligible for transfer according to the law.
At that time, the price of the two tigers was up to 4 billion VND. To buy them, I had to mortgage the Land Use Rights Certificate to borrow money. After completing the procedures, I brought the pair of tigers to Lam Dong to take care of. To date, these are the only two tigers kept in captivity in Lam Dong province," Mr. Dai recalled.
Mr. Dai bought two tigers weighing hundreds of kilograms for up to 4 billion VND in 2010.
Currently, these two tigers are being cared for by Mr. Dai in a cage area of hundreds of square meters. These two tigers are also often visited by domestic and foreign tourists to see and take photos.
In addition, Mr. Dai currently owns many rare animals such as 7 elephants, 30 crocodiles, 7 gibbons, 40 bears, etc. Mr. Dai's animal captivity and conservation are licensed by the local government as well as competent authorities. All animals that Mr. Dai keeps in captivity have clear legal documents.
Weasels are raised on Mr. Phan Dac Mau Dai's farm.
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