Protect wild elephants, create sustainable livelihoods for the community

On the morning of September 19, the People's Committee of Dong Nai province, the Department of Forestry in collaboration with the organization Humane World for Animals organized the opening ceremony of the Elephant Conservation Week 2025 (taking place from September 17 to 21, 2025).

Attending the event were Mr. Doan Hoai Nam, Deputy Director of the Department of Forestry and Forestry (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment); Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang, Vice Chairwoman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee; along with leaders of departments, localities and representatives of 13 countries with Asian elephants.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang attended the Elephant Conservation Exhibition 2025

Currently, Vietnam has nearly 200 wild elephants (a rare and endangered species) living in fragmented forest habitats and is at risk of losing its wild elephant population. To minimize human-elephant conflict, Humane World for Animals is working with central and local authorities to implement many solutions to conserve wild elephant populations.

Young people enjoy looking at photos of elephants at the exhibition.

Humane World for Animals provides technical and partial financial support for many key conservation activities, closely coordinating with local elephant conservation focal points. Dong Nai province has the second largest wild elephant population in the country and the locality has built a system of electric fences of more than 70km to separate the living areas of people from the elephant herds; using camera traps to monitor and study the habits of the elephant herds. Humane World for Animals, together with domestic researchers and international experts, develops an elephant management and conservation strategy based on scientific knowledge, available resources and local practical conditions.

Ms. Tham Thi Hong Phuong, Country Director of Humane World for Animals in Vietnam, shared: “Elephants are not part of Vietnam's natural and cultural heritage, so the unit is focusing on solutions based on science and practice to improve conservation efficiency, ensuring harmonious benefits for both elephants and the community.”

Dong Nai elephant through camera trap

Vietnam’s authorities and localities have identified the conservation of wild elephants as a national priority and a shared responsibility of the whole society. Through cooperation with Humane World for Animals, Vietnam is implementing science-based solutions and increasing resources for local authorities to protect elephant habitats.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoang, Vice Chairwoman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, said that the success of elephant conservation in Vietnam in general and Dong Nai province in particular is due to the cooperation of the whole society, from saying no to hunting and trading of wild animals to spreading positive messages. Dong Nai province is committed to continuing to closely coordinate with the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection, Humane World for Animals and domestic and foreign experts to implement practical solutions to "conserve elephants with all your heart", while creating sustainable livelihoods for the community.

Elephant Conservation Week 2025 has many activities such as: Run for Dong Nai elephants, Dance for the kindness of elephants and wild animals, elephant photo exhibition, 12th meeting of the Asian Elephant Experts Group...

HOANG BAC

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/bao-ve-dan-voi-hoang-da-tao-sinh-ke-ben-vung-cho-cong-dong-post813735.html