NEW ELEPHANT RESERVES IN VIETNAM

December 9, 2005

Elephant reserve to prevent extinction

10:46' 08/12/2005 (GMT+7)

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Forestry Department is

constructing three elephant reservations in an effort to protect the massive

mammal from extinction.

From 1975-80, Vietnam had over 2,000 elephants; but surveys this year

indicate that there are only around 160 elephants living along the border

provinces with Laos and Cambodia.

And with Vietnam one of only 13 Asian nations where elephants habitat, the

forestry department has planned that the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands)

preservation area will cover 250,000ha and protect two elephant communities

of 128 head in the central highland provinces of Dak Lak and Gia Lai.

The second preservation area will be set up in the central province of Nghe

An with a total area of 200,000ha and 20 elephants.

The last ones will be located in natural forests of southern province of

Dong Nai, where 10 elephants are living.

In addition, under the sponsorship of the Asian Elephant Preserve Fund, a

56,000ha preservation area is to be established in Que Lam Forest, in the

central province of Quang Nam. The area is to be developed into a habitat

for 28 elephants.

Furthermore, the ministry's 2004-20 Biological Diversification Preservation

programme in central of Truong Son area has targeted the set up of special

preservations in localities by 2007 in the event individual elephants are

found.

*(Source: Viet Nam News)*

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