An elephant at the Dong Nai Nature and Cultural Reserve.
The Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee has asked relevant agencies to review a proposal by the Dong Nai Nature and Cultural Reserve to launch a tourism project offering wild elephant watching tours.
According to the committee, the initiative is necessary, but legal and environmental considerations must be carefully evaluated. The provincial government has assigned the Department of Agriculture and Environment to work with the Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Justice, as well as elephant conservation experts and other relevant agencies, to assess the proposal based on existing laws, the elephants’ current habitat conditions, and the effectiveness of similar models in Vietnam and abroad.
The Dong Nai Nature and Cultural Reserve previously sought approval from the provincial authorities to attract investors to the project. The aim is to generate funds for reinvestment and habitat restoration tailored to the local elephant population.
Wild elephants are seen in a forest in Dong Nai Province. Photo by Humane World for Animals.
Dong Nai is home to the country’s second-largest wild elephant herd, with around 25 to 27 individuals, including calves. The elephants inhabit forested areas across Cat Tien National Park, the Dong Nai Nature and Cultural Reserve, and La Nga Forestry Company.
