Keeping elephants at bay in the wilderness.

The festival space by Lake Lak (Dak Lak province) resonates with the sounds of gongs, the lively rhythm of drums, and the majestic footsteps of wild elephants during a special celebration of the M'nong people, the long-standing inhabitants of this land. On the vast, windswept lake against the deep blue sky, the image of elephants and people blending into the rhythm of the forest creates a picture that is both majestic and deeply moving. More than just a festival, it is also an affirmation of the new vitality of the Central Highlands, where people live in harmony with nature and honor their cultural heritage.

Elephants are led into the ceremonial area within the traditional longhouse.

At the traditional longhouse courtyard in Lak District, a solemn ceremony for the health of elephants took place. M'nong village elders and elephant handlers offered sacred prayers, wishing for the health and safety of their "forest friends." Elephants, adorned in vibrant brocade, slowly advanced towards the ceremonial platform to the deep, resonant sound of gongs. This ritual not only reflects local beliefs but also expresses the people's gratitude to the animals that have accompanied them through countless farming seasons and festivals.

Following the ceremony came the equally anticipated part: a fruit buffet for the elephants. Bananas, watermelons, sugarcane, and pineapples were laid out, and visitors eagerly handed out food to the gentle elephants. Laughter, applause, and radiant eyes from locals and tourists clearly showed their joy at seeing the elephants being loved and cared for in the truest sense.

From these meaningful festival activities, Lak District has been persistently developing a tourism model that avoids elephant riding, focusing on elephants as cultural subjects rather than tools for serving tourists. Visitors can now walk alongside elephants, learn about their habits with their mahouts, listen to their life stories, and experience a close-knit, empathetic way of life. Especially after the ceremonies, the elephants leisurely bathe in Lak Lake, the largest natural lake in the Central Highlands, in a natural environment where respect is properly maintained.

The elephants rumbled through the waters of Lake Lak.

Since 2022, nearly 20 domesticated elephants in Lak district have been placed under a scientific care program, including proper feeding, regular health check-ups, rest, and participation in appropriate cultural activities. People who once made a living renting out elephants for rides have now become tour guides and cultural storytellers – a career transition that is both humane and sustainable.

This new tourism model has had a positive effect, with an increasing number of tourists, especially international visitors, who enjoy eco-cultural experiences. Revenue from elephant-related activities has also steadily increased year after year. Most importantly, the respected and preserved image of elephants has contributed to the recreation and preservation of the Central Highlands' cultural identity in modern times.

For the M'nong people, elephants are not only precious animals but also a collective memory, a sacred symbol of the mountains and forests. Each elephant is associated with a life of its mahout, a story, a region of memories that are not easily forgotten. When elephants live peacefully and are treated as friends, it is also when the culture of the Central Highlands is revived and sustained in the most natural way.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/du-lich/202506/giu-chan-voi-giua-dai-ngan-d6945e3/