Vietnam province to phase out elephant tours, protect endangered herd

Tourists take elephant-riding tours in Dak Lak Province, 2019. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nguyen

Authorities in Dak Lak Province, home to the country's largest elephant population, are committed to halting elephant tours to save the animal from extinction.

Provincial authorities Wednesday signed an agreement with Hong Kong-based animal welfare organization Animals Asia to phase out the elephant-riding tourism industry along with other activities that greatly affect the welfare of domestic elephants.

Instead, Dak Lak will offer elephant-friendly tourism services in an effort to protect the elephant population, which has shrunk by 90 percent over the last four decades.

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