The Central Highlands province of Dak Lak is not only the coffee hub of Vietnam but also known as the land of elephants because it owns many domesticated and wild elephant populations.
However, over the past decade, the exploitation of elephant rides and shows has affected the health of elephants, and domesticated elephant herds have not been able to reproduce, causing a decline in the number of domesticated elephants.
Faced with this reality, Dak Lak Province has held many practical activities to preserve domesticated elephant herds, especially converting the tourism model from elephant riding to an elephant-friendly tourism model, with activities such as taking photos with elephants, feeding elephants, bathing with elephants, laughing with elephants, and others.
Following are elephant-friendly tourism activities at Buon Don Bridge Tourism Centre.
There are currently five elephants serving elephant-friendly tourism activities at the Buon Don Bridge Tourism Centre.
The elephants are dressed in brocade cloths to protect themselves from the sunlight and have their heads and trunks painted with beautiful patterns.
An elephant handler drives the elephants to the feeding and the photo shoot area.
The children love to feed the elephants.
Many tourists, especially children, are very excited to see and feed the elephants.
The elephant herd at the Buon Don Bridge Tourism Centre has been better cared for since the shift to the elephant-friendly tourism model.
The elephants are fed more and are much healthier than before.
An elephant bathing activity.
Elephant-friendly tourism is the right direction, contributing to preserving domesticated elephant herds in Dak Lak and matching the trend of humane tourism.
Photo: Nguyen Cong Ly