Speaking to Dantri/Dtinews Newspaper on Thursday, General Director of Hanoi Zoo One Member Ltd. Co. Le Sy Dung said that they have removed the chains from the two animals after fixing the electric fences.
Dung said that after being released, the two elephants have freely strolled around the area and haven't engaged in any hostilities.
"We feared that they may fight each other as they were a bit fierce and didn't belong to the same herd before being taken here," the official said. "Luckily they've lived peacefully together."
Earlier in July, stories and images about the two elephants, Thai and Banang, that have been chained for a very long time at Thu Le Zoo went viral on local newspapers and social networks.
The chains have been removed from the elephants' legs.
Vietnam Animal Eyes, a group of local animal advocates, posted a letter on August 6 calling on Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman Tran Sy Thanh and General Director of Hanoi Zoo One Member Ltd. Co. Le Sy Dung to release the elephants.
The organisers are hoping the letter will reach over 100,000 signatures and more than 70,000 people have signed an online petition in support so far.
According to Vietnam Animal Eyes, the elephant is on the brink of extinction. It is unsuitable for the two elephants to be kept at Thu Le Zoo in Hanoi. They have been chained all day, minimising their movements to just a few metres.
After that, Animals Asia also sent a letter to city authorities earlier this month urging the pairs be returned to the jungle at Yok Don National Park in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak.
"Elephants at the zoo have been chained for a very long period and their health will deteriorate if they remain as they are," the letter said.
Meanwhile, Dung said that chaining the elephants was to avoid conflicts and ensure the safety of zoo staff.
"The two elephants, aged 60-70 years old, have been at our zoo for more than 10 years," he said. "They’ll die if they are put back to nature as they do not know how to seek food or protect themselves."
The elephants at Thu Le Zoo originated from the Central Highlands. It has been suggested to release them at York Don National Park in Dak Lak Province. Over recent years, York Don National Park has built a sustainable tourism and conservation model for elephants where they live freely in the forest under the monitoring and care of local caretakers.
