Early funding arrangement for the Emergency Elephant Conservation Project in Nghe An

Wild elephants continue to die

On March 13, 2024, after receiving information from local people about the discovery of a dead elephant, authorities in Con Cuong district set up a working group to go to the scene to handle the elephant carcass that had been dead for quite a while and had begun to decompose.

The dead elephant carcass in Chau Khe commune was discovered by locals in early March 2024. Photo: PV

Mr. Luu Trung Kien - Deputy Director of Pu Mat National Park said that the elephant found dead on March 13, 2024 in the forest area of ​​Chau Khe border commune was a solitary individual living in the Mon Son and Luc Da areas in the core area of ​​Pu Mat National Park. This elephant had entered a house on August 21, 2022 in Khe Kem area, Luc Da commune. That was also the last recorded time this elephant "interacted" with people in the area where it lived, until people discovered the elephant dead. According to the results of the on-site inspection, there were no signs of the elephant being attacked, it is suspected that the elephant died due to old age.

Speaking more about the elephant that just died in Chau Khe commune, Mr. Vo Cong Anh Tuan - Head of Science and International Cooperation Department of Pu Mat National Park said that in Nghe An, there are currently about 13 - 15 wild elephants living in the Pu Mat National Park and Pu Hoat Nature Reserve (Quy Chau, Quy Hop). However, these individuals are unevenly distributed, many areas have only one elephant living alone such as the elephant in Mon Son, Luc Da area (died on March 13, 2024).

Therefore, currently, only about 12-13 wild elephants remain in the Pù Mát National Park area, scattered across different districts. Specifically, there are 8-9 in the Phúc Sơn forest area (Anh Sơn district); and 4 in the Tam Quang commune forest area (Tương Dương district). Most of these elephants are adults, many are recorded as being elderly and unlikely to reproduce. If not protected and supported for reproduction, the natural wild elephant population in Nghe An will gradually decrease and disappear in the not-too-distant future.

On March 13, 2024, authorities accessed the scene to handle the carcass of the dead elephant. Photo: PV

Previously, in February 2023, people also discovered a decomposed dead elephant in Chau Phong commune, Quy Chau district. This is one of two elephants living in the Chau Phong forest area. According to the elders here, this elephant has lived here for more than 60 years, and has given birth to a baby elephant for about 30 years. These two elephants live in an isolated area, without male elephants, so they are not able to reproduce. Currently, in the Chau Phong forest area, there is only a baby elephant about 30 years old, but since the mother elephant died, people here have not recorded any signs of this elephant.

Early funding allocation for the Emergency Elephant Conservation Project

To protect wild elephants as well as minimize the damage when wild elephants encroach on human habitats, the authorities have arranged rapid response teams to support people in preventing and combating conflicts between elephants and humans, commonly known as elephant conservation teams. Specifically, Nghe An currently has 4 elephant conservation teams with 28 members, including: 1 team in Phuc Son commune (Anh Son) with 12 people; the remaining team is arranged in Quy Hop district with 6 people, 2 teams in Chau Phong commune (Quy Chau) with 10 people. In addition to the members of the Elephant Conservation Team receiving support of 1 million VND/month, in Veu village, Phuc Son commune, Pu Mat National Park also coordinated with the International Animal Protection Organization FFI to add 2 more people to participate in patrolling and protecting the forest 5 days/month, with a support cost of 350,000 VND/person/day sponsored by FFI.

Mr. Vo Cong Anh Tuan said that the elephant herd in Phuc Son commune has not been recorded to have reproduced since 2016. The unit is currently making plans and documents to request funding to invest in modern equipment to help monitor the elephant herd more effectively, such as installing automatic cameras to take photos, record videos, and warn of elephant activity and presence.

Currently, there are about 13-15 wild elephants living in Nghe An, mainly concentrated in Cao Veu area, Phuc Son commune (Anh Son). Photo courtesy

Activities supporting elephant conservation all require large funds and long-term maintenance. In addition to paying for elephant conservation groups, it is also necessary to build works, purchase supporting equipment and machinery... Regarding the funding for the implementation of the Emergency Project for Wild Elephant Conservation in Nghe An, Mr. Luu Trung Kien said that previously, elephant conservation work in Nghe An was part of the overall national project. Specifically, on May 21, 2013, the Prime Minister approved the Project "Overall Conservation of Vietnamese Elephants for the period 2013 - 2020" with the aim of conserving and sustainably developing the existing wild and domesticated elephant populations in Vietnam. In particular, the Project implements projects to conserve wild elephant populations in 3 provinces: Nghe An, Dak Lak and Dong Nai. The project will be implemented from 2013 to 2020. By 2022, the project was approved to adjust the Project "Overall conservation of Vietnamese elephants in the period 2013 - 2020". According to the adjustment, the above project will be implemented until the end of 2025. In Nghe An, based on the approval of the Central Government, the province has built an emergency project to conserve elephants with an estimated budget of more than 18 billion VND.

Decision No. 413/QD-TTg clearly states: “The People's Committees of the provinces: Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Dak Lak, Dong Nai, Quang Nam continue to implement the goals and tasks assigned by the Prime Minister in Decision 413/QD-TTg and Decision No. 763/QD-TTg, take full responsibility before the law for the results of the project implementation in the locality; regularly inspect, urge, and monitor the project implementation in the locality; manage and use capital sources for the right purposes and effectively, in accordance with the provisions of the law on public investment, the State budget and relevant legal provisions”.

Based on the Government's approval, Pu Mat National Park has made a proposal to departments, branches, and the Provincial People's Committee on the contents of the implementation of the Nghe An Province Elephant Conservation Emergency Project, including the allocation of funding for implementation. At the meeting between the Provincial People's Committee delegation chaired by Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van De on January 19, 2024, this content was discussed and the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee gave specific instructions.

Notice No. 161/TN-UBND dated March 6, 2024, regarding the conclusions of Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van De after working with Pu Mat National Park on the results of work and directions and solutions for implementing tasks in the coming period, clearly stated: Regarding the request from Pu Mat National Park for funding to implement the emergency elephant conservation project in Nghe An province, extending until 2025, approved by the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 2827/QD-UBND dated September 11, 2023, from the capital source allocated to Nghe An in Decision No. 809/QD-TT dated July 12, 2022, of the Prime Minister approving the sustainable forestry development program for the period 2021-2025, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Planning and Investment to take the lead, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Finance, to consider and advise on the allocation of funds based on regulations. to carry out the project.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/som-bo-tri-kinh-phi-du-an-khan-cap-bao-ton-voi-o-nghe-an-post287659.html