Elephant-friendly tourism

NDO - Dak Lak is not only the "coffee capital" of Vietnam but is also known as the "land of elephants," due to its large population of domesticated elephants as well as wild elephants.

However, over the past decades, due to various reasons, most notably the exploitation of elephant riding tourism services which negatively impacts the health of elephants and prevents them from reproducing, the number of domesticated elephants has steadily declined. In response to this reality, Dak Lak province has implemented many practical activities to conserve the domesticated elephant population, especially by shifting the tourism model from elephant riding to elephant-friendly tourism, which has yielded many positive results.

Leading the way in transforming the tourism model from elephant riding to elephant-friendly tourism is Simexco Daklak, a limited liability company specializing in import-export. To contribute to the protection of domesticated elephants, on February 10, 2023, the company ceased elephant riding activities at the Buon Don Suspension Bridge Tourism Center, replacing them with elephant-friendly tourism. This created a positive impact on public opinion and received praise from both domestic and international tourists. Since then, elephant-friendly tourism activities such as taking photos with elephants, feeding them, bathing them, and laughing with them have taken place daily at the Buon Don Suspension Bridge Tourism Center, attracting a large number of visitors.

Here are some elephant-friendly tourism activities at the Buon Don Suspension Bridge Tourism Center:

At the Buon Don Suspension Bridge Tourism Center, there are currently 5 elephants that are used for elephant-friendly tourism activities.

Every day, the elephants here are decorated, and tourists come to admire them and learn about the species.

The elephants here are always dressed in traditional brocade cloths to protect them from the hot sun, and their heads and trunks are painted with beautiful patterns.

The elephant handlers guide the elephants to the feeding area and pose for photos with tourists.

The children absolutely love feeding the elephants.

Many tourists, especially young people, are very interested in watching elephants and feeding them.

Visitors to the Buon Don Suspension Bridge Tourist Center have become increasingly familiar with elephant-friendly tourism.

A young person takes a selfie with an elephant.

Since switching to an elephant-friendly tourism model, the elephants at the Buon Don Suspension Bridge Tourism Center have been receiving increasingly better care.

The elephants are now fed more and are much healthier than before.

Bathing with elephants.

Bathing with elephants is always a popular activity among tourists.

An elephant handler uses his hand to splash water to cool the elephant down.

After bathing with the elephants, the herd wades in the Serepok River so that tourists can admire them.

Elephant-friendly tourism is the right direction, contributing to the conservation of the domesticated elephant population in Dak Lak and aligning with the trend of humane tourism.

NGUYEN CONG LY - Nhandan.vn

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