In the scorching heat of the Central Highlands dry season, elephant riders and staff of the Dak Lak Provincial Elephant Conservation, Animal Rescue and Forest Protection Management Center still cross the forest with elephants to find water and food, and at the same time monitor the health of each individual, according to VNA.
In the context that the domestic elephant herd in Dak Lak is only more than 30 individuals, facing the risk of decline due to old age and difficulty reproducing, conservation is not only a professional task but also an effort to preserve the cultural symbol of the Central Highlands region.
At the semi-wild elephant care area, elephant Jun and elephant Gold - two individuals who were once rescued in critical condition - are now healthy and attached to the caregiver. In 2015, elephant Jun was trapped, the wound was deeply infected to the bone. In 2016, elephant Gold fell into a deep pit, became exhausted and suffered severe injuries. The process of treating and training baby elephants to drink formula met many difficulties, many nights staff had to take turns staying up all night to take care of them.
Mr. Cao Xuan Ninh - an employee of the elephant care and rescue room - said that for more than 10 years of attachment, he considers elephants as family members.
Currently, the center manages and cares for 9 elephants. Among them, injured elephants are raised in separate environments for convenient monitoring; healthy elephants are cared for in the natural environment. The unit coordinates with the Asian Animal Organization to apply international standard care procedures, aiming to restore both physical and natural instincts for elephants.
According to Mr. Xi Xa Vat - the elephant caretaker at the center, work becomes more difficult in the dry season when water and food sources are scarce. Many days, he has to walk kilometers in conditions near 40 degrees Celsius to find food for the elephant. At the same time, caregivers must also be vigilant when wild elephants migrate closer, avoiding conflicts.
Despite the difficulties, the joy of elephant caregivers is seeing them freely walk under the forest canopy, bathe in mud, and instinctively search for food. This is also the biggest goal of conservation work: improving health and welfare for each individual.
Veterinarian Cao Dang Quan said that each elephant individual has different characteristics and care needs. Among the 9 individuals at the center, 4 were injured, old and weak, and were cared for in a controlled environment; the rest were released freely in the forest area to find food and maintain their natural habits. The center also proactively provides food by planting grass, supplementing bran and vitamins, and ensuring medical supplies to promptly handle health problems.
Behind the revival of individuals like Jun or Gold is the dedication and silent sacrifice of the "nannies" in the great forest. They not only care for but also contribute to maintaining the bond between elephants and the natural environment, towards the goal of sustainable conservation of the increasingly declining domestic elephant herd.
