Lao PDR - Elephant Conservation Center - Asian elephants and their mahouts (handlers) enjoy bathing in the lake

Asian elephants and their mahouts (handlers) enjoy bathing in the lake at the Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) in Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The ECC launched in association with the NGO ElefantAsia offers an innovative experience to visitors that combines conservation of the endangered Asian elephant with eco-tourism. Laos was once known as the land of a million elephants but now there are fewer than 900 living in the country. Around 470 of them are in captivity, traditionally employed by a lucrative logging industry. But captive elephants are often overworked and exhausted and as a consequence no longer breed. With only two elephants born for every ten that die, the Asian elephant, the sacred national emblem of Laos, is under serious threat of extinction. At the Elephant Conservation Center in Sayaboury province, the elephant nursery is an innovative reproduction project led by Lao mahouts and the Center.

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Filename: A0030101cc_1.jpg
Copyright: Tessa Bunney
Image Size: 4000x2999 / 1.5MB; Southeast Asia Bunney Conservation ECC Lao Laos NGO PDR Sayabouly Sayaboury Tessa Xayabouly Xayaboury center centre elephant grey non-tourism trunk Asian endangered animal mammal eco-tourism mahout handler wash washing lake water mahouts handlers
Contained in galleries: Tessa Bunney - All pics, Lao PDR - Sayaboury elephant festival

Asian elephants and their mahouts (handlers) enjoy bathing in the lake at the Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) in Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The ECC launched in association with the NGO ElefantAsia offers an innovative experience to visitors that combines conservation of the endangered Asian elephant with eco-tourism. Laos was once known as the land of a million elephants but now there are fewer than 900 living in the country. Around 470 of them are in captivity, traditionally employed by a lucrative logging industry. But captive elephants are often overworked and exhausted and as a consequence no longer breed. With only two elephants born for every ten that die, the Asian elephant, the sacred national emblem of Laos, is under serious threat of extinction. At the Elephant Conservation Center in Sayaboury province, the elephant nursery is an innovative reproduction project led by Lao mahouts and the Center.