Since June 2009, eight elephants have been found dead in the Vinh CuuNatural Reserve of the southern province of Dong Nai , accordingto recent statistics.
Pham Trong Anh, from theInstitute of Ecology and Biological Resources, said that currentVietnamese elephant numbers ranged from only 30 to 50.
"More than 20 years ago, Vietnam had over 1,000 wild elephants, butthe numbers have dropped to less than 100," Vietnam Zoology Associationpresident Dang Huy Huynh said, adding that most of the remaining herdswere only to be found in the Central Highlands and southeastareas.
Elephants, mostly living in fragmentedforests and covering large areas, have had their habitats narrowed bylocals burning down forests in order to clear land for farming.
"Due to their loss of habitat, many elephants end up destroying paddyfields in their search for safety. Moreover, male and female elephantsfind it difficult to meet, severely limiting reproduction," Huynh said.
Hunting elephants for their tusks has also contributed to their decreasing numbers.
"The death of lots of elephants in recent times is a reminder thathumans are solely responsible for the critically endangered status ofelephants. At the current rate of killing, elephants will become extinctin Vietnam over the next decade," Scott Roberton, countryrepresentative of the Wildlife Conservation Society, said.
Although there might be truth in what Roberton says, his predictions are hard to verify, according to Anh.
At a recent conference on elephants, held at the Cat TienNational Park this year, the application of electronic fences wasdiscussed. However, Anh said that such an application would proveimpossible due to a lack of funds.
"We have toconsider the reality that national parks and conservation areas inVietnam are all small to provide sufficient habitats to elephants.There are however, areas located right next to each other which could beutilised for such purposes. Conservation areas such as Bac Huong Hoa,in the central province of Quang Tri , situated close to the PhongNha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh province. If merged, itcould supply ample space for elephant recuperation," Anh explained.
According to Roberton , Vietnam currently lacks effective laws punishing wildlife crimes.
" Vietnam needs to make it very clear that it will not abide crimescommitted against wildlife. We don't need any more speeches or actionplans or reviews; the time to act is now, before it is too late," hesaid. /.
Pham Trong Anh, from theInstitute of Ecology and Biological Resources, said that currentVietnamese elephant numbers ranged from only 30 to 50.
"More than 20 years ago, Vietnam had over 1,000 wild elephants, butthe numbers have dropped to less than 100," Vietnam Zoology Associationpresident Dang Huy Huynh said, adding that most of the remaining herdswere only to be found in the Central Highlands and southeastareas.
Elephants, mostly living in fragmentedforests and covering large areas, have had their habitats narrowed bylocals burning down forests in order to clear land for farming.
"Due to their loss of habitat, many elephants end up destroying paddyfields in their search for safety. Moreover, male and female elephantsfind it difficult to meet, severely limiting reproduction," Huynh said.
Hunting elephants for their tusks has also contributed to their decreasing numbers.
"The death of lots of elephants in recent times is a reminder thathumans are solely responsible for the critically endangered status ofelephants. At the current rate of killing, elephants will become extinctin Vietnam over the next decade," Scott Roberton, countryrepresentative of the Wildlife Conservation Society, said.
Although there might be truth in what Roberton says, his predictions are hard to verify, according to Anh.
At a recent conference on elephants, held at the Cat TienNational Park this year, the application of electronic fences wasdiscussed. However, Anh said that such an application would proveimpossible due to a lack of funds.
"We have toconsider the reality that national parks and conservation areas inVietnam are all small to provide sufficient habitats to elephants.There are however, areas located right next to each other which could beutilised for such purposes. Conservation areas such as Bac Huong Hoa,in the central province of Quang Tri , situated close to the PhongNha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh province. If merged, itcould supply ample space for elephant recuperation," Anh explained.
According to Roberton , Vietnam currently lacks effective laws punishing wildlife crimes.
" Vietnam needs to make it very clear that it will not abide crimescommitted against wildlife. We don't need any more speeches or actionplans or reviews; the time to act is now, before it is too late," hesaid. /.
