Fw: (VN) Elephant Relocation Suspended After Deaths

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http://www.anc.org/wildlife/wildlife_article.cfm?identifier=2002_0114_vietna

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Elephant Relocation Suspended After Deaths

by Ellie Vera

A mission to save the members of one of the few remaining Asian elephant

herds in Vietnam by relocating them to a wildlife refuge recently was

suspended after the deaths of two of the animals.

Shortly after one of the elephants was shot with a tranquilizer dart, he

managed to avoid capture, but later fell down a steep hillside, apparently

due to exhaustion caused by the tranquilizer.

The other elephant that died was captured and chained, but is thought to

have fallen over a tree stump after being frightened by reporters and

photographers who approached him.

The members of the herd were to have been transported from the southern

province of Binh Thuan, in which deforestation has ruined much of their

habitat. The goal was to have them join a herd of Asian elephants living in

Yook Don National Park in Dak Lak Province.

The previous attempt to relocate a herd of elephants in Vietnam, which took

place in 1993, resulted in one of the individuals conducting the move being

trampled to death, and all 12 of the elephants dying either from a

tranquilizer overdose or jumping out of a moving truck.

© 2002 Animal News Center, Inc.

 

 

 

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