Tusked elephants find repose in Dak Lak conservation center (Vietnam)
Tusked elephants find repose in Dak Lak conservation center (Vietnam)
Ngoc Thanh, Vietnam Express
February 15, 2021
See link
https://e.vnexpress.net/photo/news/tusked-elephants-find-repose-in-dak-lak-conservation-center-4227239.html
for photos.
Thoong Kham, a 26-year-old male elephant, stands amid a forest patch in the
Elephant Conservation Center (ECC), Buon Don District of Central Highlands'
Dak Lak Province. He is one among 38 tamed elephants in the locality.
Around two decades ago, a pack of wild elephants trampled crops and houses
in Tanh Linh District of central Binh Thuan Province, killing 12 locals.
Authorities later captured six elephants to be kept at Yok Don National
Park. But two young elephants at the time, after being released into the
wild, returned to wreak havoc, forcing their recapture and taming. The two
were subsequently named Thoong Kham (Golden Boy) and Thoong Ngan (Silver
Boy).
From 2006 to 2007, Thoong Kham performed with a circus carnival. Due to
frequent traveling and time spent in captivity, he became aggressive. He
has now been released back to the forest, taken care of by an elephant
trainer in areas managed by ECC.
Y Ty Nie (L) is the only elephant trainer in Buon Don capable of tempering
Thoong Kham's tantrums.
Around 20 kilometers away is Yok Don National Park, where Thoong Ngan is
being kept. Part of his ear had been torn while one of his tusks was sawed
off by poachers in 2015.
Thoong Ngan used to carry visitors in Buon Don, but since March 2018, he
has been a part of a new tourism model that does not allow elephant riding
by Animals Asia.
Thoong Ngan's right tusk has grown back after six years. He is now an adult
elephant in his reproductive period, released into the forest under the
watch of trainers. ECC said there has been cases of elephants in Dak Lak
being electrocuted and killed to have their tusks stolen. Many others had
their tails and fur cut off to be sold to tourists. The elephants are now
being guarded by ECC at Yok Don National Park.
Jun, 11, is a wild elephant rescued by ECC in 2015. One of his legs was
injured when caught in a trap back then. Despite medical treatment over
several years, the wound never completely healed. He is the youngest
elephant with both tusks intact in Dak Lak.
Every day, Jun's wound is dressed by vets four times, typically in between
feeding and showering. He is now roaming an area spanning 7,000 square
meters, surrounded by fences to ensure safety for both humans and
elephants.
Y Mam, 49, is owned by a tourism business in Lak District. He was bought
from Ea Sup District, and had a history of attacking elephant trainers.
In May 2020, he killed his carer in Lak District. His tusks were
subsequently sawed off and his legs chained before being taken to a
desolate mountainous area so he would not endanger people.
Y Vinh is currently the only elephant trainer who Y Mam's willing to listen
to. Y Vinh is also taking care of another elephant, 29-year-old Y Kham Sen.
"He is a docile male, but still a wild animal. He only listens to his
trainer, so strangers should not come near. He is currently released into
the forest, and only called back when needed," he said. Y Vinh is the
fourth generation trainer in his family, who follows the tradition of
hunting and taming elephants in Lak District.
Kham Sen, 58, is one of the oldest male elephants in Lak District. He and
other female elephants often gather near Lak Lake to serve tourists during
the day, before returning to the hills to rest at night. For each 10-minute
ride, elephants bring their owners VND200,000-300,000 ($8.67-13).
Every year, Kham Sen is taken home to work for a week, either by carrying
tourists or helping with farmwork. The rest of his time is spent in the
woods.
For the last three years, elephants have been incorporated in a first-time
tourism model in Vietnam where they would not be used for riding or heavy
labor, but allowed to live freely in the wild under the care of a trainer.
Tourists are only allowed to view the elephants from afar.
Part of Kham Sen's tusks were sawed off so he would not endanger his carers
and tourists.
Dak Lak has the largest number of elephants, including wild and tamed, in
Vietnam. According to ECC, about 80-100 wild elephants and 38 domesticated
ones are left as of 2019. Vietnam's breeding efforts among domesticated
elephants over the past three decades have proven unsuccessful due to
limited space for mating and poor health of the animals.