Dak Lak (VNA) – Animals Asia willprovide a funding of 60,000 USD for the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak tocarry out the elephant conservation project from November 2019 to February2021.
An agreement to this effect was signed in Buon Ma Thuot city on January 11.
The project aims to improve the quality of and capacity for elephant care andprotection of the Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre, and raise publicawareness of animal protection.
Under the agreement, Animals Asia willsend experts to Dak Lak to share experience in elephant rescue and protection,towards replacing elephant-riding tourism with elephant-friendly tourism.
Addressing the singing ceremony, Tuan Bendixsen, chief representative ofAnimals Asia in Vietnam, said the organisation hopes that Dak Lak will pay more attention to buildingessential infrastructure in service of elephant conservation.
Nguyen Hoai Duong, Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture andRural Development, lauded the support of Animals Asia for elephant preservationin Dak Lak over the past time.
According to the official, Dak Lak is home to the largest number of wild andtame elephants in Vietnam, with five wild herds gathering about 80-100elephants, and 45 tame elephants.
However, elephant poaching, deforestation and elephant riding tourism havechallenged the conservation work in Dak Lak, he said.
In July 2018, Animals Asia gave the Yok Don National Park in Dak Lak province 65,000 USD to support the transition of elephant-ridingtourism towards elephant watching tourism from July, 2018 to July, 2023.-VNA