Domestic elephants in Dak Lak enjoy buffet on World Elephant Day

Aiming to raise public awareness of protection and conservation of the animal, the annual event also entailed interactive activities between mahouts and visitors.

Tran Xuan Phuoc, head of the center, elaborated that Dak Lak Province in the Central Highlands now houses 36 domestic elephants, with 14 of them in Lak District and the remainder in Buon Don District. Due to such a limited number, reproduction becomes difficult, posing challenges to conservation and species development.

The center has been collaborating closely with organizations and mahouts to ensure proper care and welfare for the elephants, he said.

The celebration of World Elephant Day is also an opportunity for locals and tourists to enhance their awareness of elephant conservation and work together in building elephant-friendly tourism models to ensure the well-being of the animal helping conserve the domestic elephant population in Dak Lak.

According to statistics, the number of domestically raised elephants in Dak Lak, home to the largest elephant population in Vietnam, has significantly decreased over time, starting from around 502 individuals in the early 1980s.