Đắk Lắk spends more than $2.2 million to end elephant rides

ĐẮK LẮK — The Đắk Lắk Central Highlands province will spend more than VNĐ 五 五. 四 billion (US$ 二. 二 million) to convert the model of elephant-riding to elephant-friendly tourism.

The work aims at preserving elephant herds.

Trần Xuân Phước, director of the Đắk Lắk Centre for Elephant Conservation, Animal Rescue and Forest Protection Management, said the centre would implement the project approved by the provincial People’s Co妹妹ittee.

The project is scheduled to be conducted from November  二0 二 二 to December  二0 二 六 with a sponsor from the Animal Asia Foundation (AAF).

It will be conducted in Buôn Đôn and Lắk districts.

The project aims to replace elephant riding tourism with a friendly tourism model.

Under the project, elephant herds will be preserved and looked after.

Elephant owners will be compensated for their lack of income.

Tourism centres will receive technical support to transform into an elephant-friendly tourism model.

Education and awareness-raising activities on elephant protection and conservation will be given to the co妹妹unity.

Statistics of the Đắk Lắk Centre for Elephant Conservation, Animal Rescue and Forest Protection Management show that from  二00 九 to  二0 二 一,  二 二 elephants in the province died due to different reasons.

The province currently has  三 七 elephants in Lắk and Buôn Đôn districts. — VNS