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EN
On July 19th, a tourist was seriously injured after being gored by an elephant at the Bản Đôn tourist area (Đắk Lắk). Prior to that, on May 22nd, an elephant handler was also fatally attacked by a domesticated elephant while taking it for a bath. Following these two incidents, representatives of the company managing and operating the Bản Đôn tourist area announced the temporary suspension of elephant riding tours from July 24, 2020.
The elephants silently waited their turn to carry passengers.
Animals Asia in Vietnam has previously issued warnings about this type of tourism. Prolonged confinement and mistreatment of elephants can lead to feelings of frustration and the emergence of their inherent aggressive and wild nature.
Currently, most countries around the world are moving towards eliminating elephant riding tours. Instead, they are organizing more friendly activities such as cycling through forests and visiting elephants, bathing elephants, taking photos with elephants, etc.
Tourists experience eco-friendly tourism without riding elephants.
Elephant riding tourism is not actually part of the indigenous culture; it only caters to the interests of a specific group. These inhumane tours must stop, for the sake of protecting both people and the elephants themselves.
