Opening of Elephant Conservation Week 2025 in Dong Nai

(DN) - On the morning of September 19, at Dong Nai Provincial Square Park (Tan Trieu Ward), the Opening Ceremony of Elephant Conservation Week 2025 took place.

Leaders of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment , Asian Elephant Expert Group cut the ribbon to open the Vietnam Elephant Exhibition, recognize, love and live safely together. Photo: Hoang Loc

Attending the program were: Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairwoman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang; Provincial Party Committee member, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Tuan Anh. On the side of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, there were Mr. Doan Hoai Nam, Deputy Director of the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection. Mr. Vivek Menon, Chairman of the Asian Elephant Expert Group and representatives of 13 countries with Asian elephants also attended.

Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairwoman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang delivered the opening speech of Elephant Conservation Week 2025. Photo: Hoang Loc

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairwoman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang said: Elephants are not only rare wild animals, but also an inseparable part of the forest ecosystem. Currently, Dong Nai is the province with the second largest wild elephant population in the country, a natural heritage that needs to be protected.

In recent years, the province has been a pioneer in elephant conservation and achieved encouraging results. Specifically, the province has deployed the construction of an electric fence system with a length of more than 70km separating the living and farming areas of the people from the wild elephant herds to minimize conflicts between elephants and humans; using camera traps to monitor and study the habits of the elephant herds, thereby finding appropriate protection solutions. Along with that, propaganda and education campaigns have contributed to raising people's awareness of the importance of living in harmony with elephants. This effort has been gradually helping the elephant herd in Dong Nai to stabilize and develop.

Leaders of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Asian Elephant Expert Group view photo exhibition on elephants and wild animals. Photo: Hoang Loc

However, the conflict between elephants and humans is still a big challenge for the province, requiring drastic and synchronous actions. Elephant Conservation Week with activities: Run for Dong Nai Elephants, Dance for the kindness of elephants and wild animals, elephant photo exhibition, 12th meeting of the Asian Elephant Expert Group... will contribute practically to the conservation of wild elephants.

Dong Nai province leaders attend the opening ceremony of Vietnam Elephant Conservation Week. Photo: Hoang Loc

On this occasion, the leaders of the Provincial People's Committee hope that every citizen of Dong Nai in particular and the whole country in general, from urban to rural areas, will better understand the role and value of elephants. At the same time, they call for the cooperation of everyone, from government levels, businesses to individuals in participating in elephant conservation. Turn meaningful messages into concrete actions, so that Dong Nai will always be a safe "home" for elephants and a symbol of sustainable development.

Leaders of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment presented flowers to members of the Asian Elephant Expert Group. Photo: Hoang Loc

“Elephant conservation is not a matter of one person, but a duty of the whole society. Every small action we take today, whether it is not hunting or trading wild animals, or simply spreading meaningful messages, will contribute to creating a great future for elephants, other wild animals and for future generations,” the leader of the Provincial People’s Committee emphasized.

Hoang Loc

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/tin-moi/202509/khai-mac-tuan-le-bao-ton-voi-nam-2025-tai-dong-nai-a2c0743/