BUILDING SUSTAINABLE ELEPHANT CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN DAK LAK PROVINCE, VIET NAM

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO STABILIZE A HEALTHY ASIAN ELEPHANT POPULATION IN DAK LAK PROVINCE, VIET NAM, WHICH IS A CRITICAL HOTSPOT FOR ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION.

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST REPORT FROM THE GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY, ONLY ABOUT 75-130 INDIVIDUALS REMAIN IN THE WILD, PRIMARILY DISTRIBUTED ALONG THE BORDERS OF VIET NAM WITH LAOS AND CAMBODIA.

WITH THIS DWINDLING BUT VITAL POPULATION, THE CONSERVATION OF ELEPHANTS IN THIS AREA IS A KEY PRIORITY FOR THE VIET NAM GOVERNMENT AND WWF.THE EASTERN PLAIN LANDSCAPE (EPL) IN VIET NAM HOUSES THE LARGEST ELEPHANT POPULATION, WITH 60-70 INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITHIN YOK DON NATIONAL PARK (YDNP). THIS PARK IS LOCATED IN DAK LAK PROVINCE AND IS THE SECOND LARGEST PROTECTED AREA IN THE COUNTRY.

THE ELEPHANTS IN YDNP ACCOUNT FOR 70-75% OF THE WILD ELEPHANT POPULATION IN VIET NAM. BUT THESE POPULATIONS ARE AT RISK FROM FACTORS SUCH AS HABITAT LOSS AND DEGRADATION AND HUMAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT (HEC).

THE MIXED DECIDUOUS DIPTEROCARP AND SEMI-EVERGREEN FOREST IN YDNP THAT ARE A SOURCE OF FOOD FOR ELEPHANTS HAVE DECLINED AND YDNPS NATURAL WATERHOLES DRY UP DURING THE DRY SEASON.

DUE TO LACK OF FOOD AND WATER SOURCES DURING THIS PERIOD, WILD ELEPHANTS OFTEN MOVE INTO NEIGHBORING VILLAGES, WHICH LEADS TO HEC. AS SUCH, HEC STANDS AS ONE OF THE FOREMOST THREATS TO THE SUR