Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Dak Lak (VNA) – Yok Don National Park in the CentralHighlands province of Dak Lak signed an agreement with the Animals AsiaFoundation on July 13 to become the first unit in Vietnam committed to applyingelephant-friendly tourism.
The two sides pledged to shift the tourism model from ridingelephants to coming to see elephants in their natural environment.
Specifically, the transition will see the elephants free tobehave as they would in the wild, free to roam the park; bathe in mud, dust,and water; or graze as tourists watch on from a safe distance.
Cruel mistreatment of the elephants will be eliminated,including the banning of their use for festival activities. Communications willbe intensified to raise public awareness of the protection of wildlife.
The Animals Asia Foundation committed 65,000 USD in aid forthe Yok Don National Park to carry out the transition project, which will lastuntil July 2023.
The foundation also vowed to send experts to the park tobuild and maintain the tourism model effectively.
Deputy Director of the park Pham Tuan Linh said that thepark currently has three tame elephants, who are used in patrolling anddeveloping ecotourism.
The new tourism model will benefit elephant owners, mahouts,and the local community, he added.
David Neale, Animal Welfare Director at the Animals AsiaFoundation, said that environmentally-friendly tourism is a growing trend theworld over.
In Vietnam, Yok Don National Park is the first unitcommitted to replacing traditional elephant riding with activities that allowthem a more natural and free environment. This is a chance for the park toprotect wild animals and attract more domestic and foreign tourists.
Dak Lak is home to 45 tamed elephants, mostly living in BuonDon and Lak districts.-VNA
The two sides pledged to shift the tourism model from ridingelephants to coming to see elephants in their natural environment.
Specifically, the transition will see the elephants free tobehave as they would in the wild, free to roam the park; bathe in mud, dust,and water; or graze as tourists watch on from a safe distance.
Cruel mistreatment of the elephants will be eliminated,including the banning of their use for festival activities. Communications willbe intensified to raise public awareness of the protection of wildlife.
The Animals Asia Foundation committed 65,000 USD in aid forthe Yok Don National Park to carry out the transition project, which will lastuntil July 2023.
The foundation also vowed to send experts to the park tobuild and maintain the tourism model effectively.
Deputy Director of the park Pham Tuan Linh said that thepark currently has three tame elephants, who are used in patrolling anddeveloping ecotourism.
The new tourism model will benefit elephant owners, mahouts,and the local community, he added.
David Neale, Animal Welfare Director at the Animals AsiaFoundation, said that environmentally-friendly tourism is a growing trend theworld over.
In Vietnam, Yok Don National Park is the first unitcommitted to replacing traditional elephant riding with activities that allowthem a more natural and free environment. This is a chance for the park toprotect wild animals and attract more domestic and foreign tourists.
Dak Lak is home to 45 tamed elephants, mostly living in BuonDon and Lak districts.-VNA
VNA
