Elephant caretaker in Yok Don forest

Chatting with Phu over a round of Hanoi draft beer reminded me of the Indian film: The Elephant Whisperer, which won the 2023 Oscar for Best Short Documentary. The story of a man who loved animals as if they were his own children touched the world.

Listen to the whispers of the elephant.

In his acceptance speech, director Kartiki Gonsalves of the film The Elephant Caretaker said: “I stand here to speak of the sacred link between humans and the natural world , out of respect for indigenous communities and empathy for the creatures with whom we share space.”

The film's story is simple: an elderly couple cares for Raghu, an elephant who lost his mother when he was only a few months old. With their love and care, Raghu grows up healthy. Some time later, the authorities give them a three-month-old elephant named Ammu. The two elephants play together, growing up side-by-side. Then, one day, Raghu is forced to move elsewhere…

Talking to and understanding Phu's work, I realized that Phan Phu, born in 1989 and raised in Dak Lak , currently working for Animals Asia in the sunny, windy, and fertile Central Highlands, shares many similarities and connections with the characters in the film. My conversation with Phu made me realize that when a person is given the choice to do what they love, that is true freedom.

Phu has the physique and style of a "sage" from Japanese films. He is strong, agile, and his beard, hair, and face give him a very likeable appearance. Phu says that he spent too much time in the forest playing with elephants, listening to their whispers, and learning about elephant diseases, so he often neglected his family responsibilities.

When I asked her how she coped with loneliness while working silently in the forest with elephants, and how she managed to balance her role as an mahout with her normal life, given the technical skills, time commitment, and sensitivity required in her work, she replied...

Phu smiled gently and shared, "I've set a principle that once I'm with elephants, I'm completely devoted to them. When I'm away from them, I'm just an ordinary person like everyone else. I constantly learn and research about the work I'm doing to become even better."

Phu rarely talks about his work or boasts or acts impulsively about his elephant care in Yok Don forest, even though his colleagues told me that "he has a very skillful ability to read and understand elephant behavior."

His calm demeanor made me want to explore more about his work, his choices, or whether elephants are more "charming" than humans. "I chose this job because elephants are creatures with very deep, genuine emotions. They don't lie, they don't pretend, they don't scheme. Once they trust me, it's complete trust. I feel that elephants have immense compassion; they place their complete trust in their caregivers. Sometimes we even hurt them while caring for their injured legs. For example, Jun the elephant lost all of his front hooves due to a trap, and needed his wound cleaned, the necrotic tissue removed, and soaked in salt water daily, but he still let me do it even though it hurt. The most 'charming' thing about elephants is that purity. They are slow, gentle, strong, but also extremely fragile. And I feel I belong more to that world – where feelings don't need many words, just presence," Phu confided.

Throughout his work, Phu has always considered elephants his companions. Each elephant he encounters leaves a unique impression, but some individuals have become his "best friends." "For me, the most unforgettable is probably Jun the elephant. I have so many memories with him, and now we've worked together for 10 years."

"After a year in the forest, the elephant conservation center had a place to care for her, so she was going to be transferred there. With trust in her, I trained her to get into the vehicle within two days, and during transport, we were together in the same truck bed. Looking back, the line between us was so thin, but we chose to trust each other, and so we were both safe until we arrived," Phu shared.

I wanted to ask Phu more questions about himself, but he refused, saying that there are many passionate people in the organization who are more talented than him, so why don't I ask them? He's just an ordinary person. But I actually like Phu's "ordinariness." It brings so much beauty to the community and fosters respect and love for wildlife.

Speaking briefly about himself, Phu hopes that people will let elephants live naturally and wildly as they are: “Currently, I am an animal welfare technician for Animals Asia in Dak Lak. I am still continuing my work caring for the elephants at Yok Don National Park. I hope that in the future, elephants will be free and no longer dependent on humans. I am also supporting several places to improve their welfare. Elephants are intelligent animals with complex social lives, having evolved over millions of years with specialized skills to survive and thrive in their natural forest environment. Using elephants for elephant riding tourism forces them to live in an unfamiliar environment – ​​where they have to learn the “language of obedience,” follow human commands, and perform activities that are not their natural behaviors. It is time for us to free elephants from this type of service – help them return to the forest and give them the right to choose their own way of life.” me".

Elephant caretaker in the eyes of his friends

When Thuy Duong arrived in the Yok Don mountains, she met Phu. A girl from Hanoi studying law, she chose a career dedicated to loving and protecting animals. Phu's work ethic was a great source of inspiration, and she became captivated by the rainforest rains, the rumbling thunder, and the elephants.

Duong shared with me about Phu and the other people working here, all of whom are interesting friends: “The flow of fate has brought me to meet these children of the mountains and forests, silently and steadfastly accompanying the elephants every day. They are like uncles, brothers, and sisters, carrying within them enduring hearts and unpretentious love. They are the ones who are preserving and protecting every piece of freedom in the vast forest, safeguarding the integrity of the sacred spirit of the land. These magnificent elephants are leisurely roaming through the ancient forest, on a healing journey after long years of exploitation, abuse, and neglect. I am truly grateful to and admire them, including Phu.”

Thu Cúc, a long-time colleague of Phú, expressed: “Elephants are not only subjects of his work, but also a source of inspiration that motivates Phú to persevere in his conservation goals.” Thu Cúc recounted: “Once he sets a goal, no matter how difficult it is, Phú never falters. There were months when he ate, slept, and rested alongside Gold the elephant, closely monitoring every change in her health and behavior. There were nights when he and his colleagues silently crossed the Yok Đôn forest, without turning on lights or making any sound, quietly observing the wild elephant herd to find an opportunity to release Gold back into nature. Elephants are extremely intelligent and sensitive, especially wild elephants. Therefore, every action in those moments must be extremely cautious, because even a small mistake can lead to unpredictable danger.”

From transporting and training to providing healthcare for the elephants, every action of Mr. Phu reflects meticulousness and dedication. He works with the caution of someone who understands that every small detail can directly affect the health and welfare of the animals. That's why I believe he "understands elephants" in a special way, not just through gestures and behavior, but as if there's an intuitive connection, sensing what they want. Thanks to this, even the most difficult elephants trust Mr. Phu to conduct training sessions, perform procedures, or provide medical care," Thu Cuc said.

She revealed that Phu had a remarkable self-learning journey. Starting with limited English skills, Phu took advantage of every free moment in the forest to practice, with a simple but unwavering belief: "To help elephants effectively, I must be able to communicate with elephant experts." Through persistent determination, Phu gradually expanded his abilities to better serve conservation work.
Over the past 40 years, the domesticated elephant population in Dak Lak province has declined from 502 to just under 35. To conserve the species and improve the welfare of captive elephants, in 2021, the People's Committee of Dak Lak province and Animals Asia (AAF) signed a memorandum of cooperation to transform the model into an elephant-friendly tourism model, aiming to end elephant riding tourism and other activities that negatively impact the welfare of domesticated elephants in tourism and festivals. According to the cooperation agreement, Animals Asia committed over US$2 million to Dak Lak province to implement the new elephant-friendly tourism model. From 2016 to the present, the organization has supported elephant conservation efforts in the province with approximately US$350,000. As of June 2025, 14 out of a total of 35 domesticated elephants in Dak Lak have had their living conditions improved. Of these, 11 are participating in non-riding elephant tourism models at Yok Don National Park and the Lak Lake Historical, Cultural, and Environmental Forest Management Board, and 3 are being cared for at the Elephant Conservation Center.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/nguoi-cham-voi-o-rung-yok-don.html