Authorities in Buon Don Commune said the elephant, named P Lang, was found dead by its owner on May 18 despite appearing healthy beforehand.
The Dak Lak Elephant Conservation, Animal Rescue and Forest Protection Management Centre, together with local officials and forest rangers, inspected the scene but found no signs of external injuries or unusual disturbances around the area.
The elephant’s owner said the animal had shown signs of mating behaviour since March but remained calm and continued eating and moving normally in recent weeks.
P Lang was domesticated in 1984 and had been used for elephant-friendly tourism activities in Buon Don, where visitors could observe but not ride the animal.
The owner did not request an autopsy and asked for the elephant to be buried according to local traditions.
Dak Lak was home to around 500 domesticated elephants in the 1980s, but the population has declined sharply over the decades. The province now has only 32 domesticated elephants remaining, most of which are beyond breeding age.
