A file photo of Bak Kham besides Y Thanh Uong
Leading reporters through a muddy path to the burial site in Cuor village, Y Thanh Uong pointed to the fresh mound beside his mother's grave and said, "Bak Kham will always be a cherished member of our family."
He recalled that on July 17, upon hearing news that Bak Kham had died over 10 kilometres from home, he and his wife rushed to the scene, hoping it was not true.
"When we arrived, she was lying motionless, with what looked like tears still in her eyes. My wife H'Ha Triet cradled her head and wept. I sat on the ground, overwhelmed by grief," he said.
H'Ha Triet cries by the body of Bak Kham.
Officials later confirmed Bak Kham died after slipping on wet terrain and being fatally pierced by a tree stump. Only after the examination were they allowed to bring her home for burial in accordance with local customs.
Due to the rugged terrain, the family required three elephants, machinery, and nearly 100 people to transport the elephant's body, which took over 10 hours to reach the burial site.
Y Thanh Uong visits Bak Kham's grave
Overwhelmed by the loss, H'Ha Triet was hospitalised for a day. The family has yet to return to their regular routines. They take turns visiting Bak Kham's grave daily.
Hopes of a calf that never came
Dak Lak has not recorded a successful captive elephant birth in over 30 years. Several pregnant elephants have failed to deliver live calves, frustrating both conservationists and owners.
For years, Uong's family had hoped Bak Kham would contribute to conservation by producing a calf. She only accepted one mate, a 60-year-old bull named Thong Rang.
In 2018, Bak Kham became pregnant, and the family took great care of her. However, the calf suffocated before birth. Still, the family remained hopeful and repeatedly brought her to the forest during mating periods.
Most recently, while attempting to mate her again with Thong Rang, Bak Kham slipped during heavy rain, falling onto a sharp tree stump that caused fatal internal injuries.
Uong expressed hope that authorities and conservation groups would help establish designated forest areas for elephants and offer financial support as families transition away from using elephants for rides.
"We need coordinated efforts and practical solutions to help elephants reproduce successfully," he said.
In 1980, Dak Lak had around 500 captive elephants. Today, only 33 remain, with most beyond reproductive age, raising concerns over the herd's survival.
According to the provincial Elephant Conservation Centre, five female elephants have mated with bulls, resulting in three pregnancies, but all the calves were stillborn.
Since 2016, Animals Asia has supported conservation efforts in Dak Lak with USD 350,000. A new agreement will provide over USD 2 million to help end elephant riding.
Tourists ride elephants in Dak Lak.
To date, 14 elephants have shifted to an ethical tourism model, offering photography and observation experiences instead of rides.
