Show Navigation

Search Results

Refine Search
Match all words
Match any word
Prints
Personal Use
Royalty-Free
Rights-Managed
(leave unchecked to
search all images)
{ 99 images found }

Loading ()...

  • Construction of Hongsa Power Co. Ltd, a joint venture US$3.7 billion, 1.878 MW lignite-fired power plant in Hongsa district, Sayabouly province, Lao PDR. The business is a lignite mining and electricity generation facilities on a 70 square km, more than 300 km from Vientiane capital yet only 35 km from Nan province, Thailand. The power plant will have 3 units, 626 MW each, and it is expected to start commercial operation by 2015 and will produce electricity for export to Thailand.
    A0029148cc_1.jpg
  • A Yumbri family set up an example hut made from bamboo, coconut and banana leaves at the Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR and collect donations from the tourists at the festival. The Yumbri, otherwise known as Yellow Leaves, Tong Luang or Mlabri are the last remaining hunter-gatherer Austroasiatic-speaking community living in the primary forests and river basins of the Nam Poui region in Sayaboury province. They are Laos smallest ethnic group with estimates of the numbers of Yumbri remaining varying between 21 and 30 individuals.
    A0029313cc_1.jpg
  • Two female Lao tourists riding an Asian elephant with the mahout (handler) at the annual Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. <br />
<br />
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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029297cc_1.jpg
  • Two Asian elephants and their mahouts (handlers) walk along the road swinging their tails at the Sayaboury Elephant Festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    DSCF4956cc_1.jpg
  • Boys playing football in the recently relocated village of Ban Thong Chalern in Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Ban Thong Chalern consists of three villages (Khmu and Lao Loum) which have been joined together and relocated due to construction of the Xayaburi dam, a major hydropower project on the Mekong river.
    A0029204cc_1.jpg
  • A Tai Lue ethnic minority woman holds a skein of naturally coloured brown cotton, Ban Bimi, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR.  The Tai Lue are known as expert weavers particularly of cotton which they cultivate locally. One of the most ethnically diverse countries in Southeast Asia, Laos has 49 officially recognised ethnic groups although there are many more self-identified and sub groups. These groups are distinguished by their own customs, beliefs and rituals.
    A0029138cc_1.jpg
  • A mahout (handler) decorates a male Asian elephant ready for the parade at the annual Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029253cc_1.jpg
  • A male Asian elephant and his mahout (handler) cross the Nam Hung river in Sayaboury, Lao PDR. Meanwhile in the background the general public attending the Sayaboury Elephant Festival attempt to cross a broken bamboo bridge which is struggling to cope with the amount of people trying to cross the river.
    DSCF5075cc_1.jpg
  • A Yumbri family set up an example hut made from bamboo, coconut and banana leaves and sing traditional songs at the Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR and collect donations from the tourists at the festival. The Yumbri, otherwise known as Yellow Leaves, Tong Luang or Mlabri are the last remaining hunter-gatherer Austroasiatic-speaking community living in the primary forests and river basins of the Nam Poui region in Sayaboury province. They are Laos smallest ethnic group with estimates of the numbers of Yumbri remaining varying between 21 and 30 individuals.
    A0029308cc_1.jpg
  • A male Asian elephant at the Baci ceremony at the Sayaboury Elephant Festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The baci is a long series of chanted blessings and exhortations to welcome back any ‘kwans’ or body spirits that might have been lost. In traditional Lao culture it is believed that elephants, like humans, have 32 kwan (or souls), vital for health and spiritual wellbeing. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    DSCF5027cc_1.jpg
  • Buddhist monks tie cotton string onto an elephants tusk during the Baci ceremony at the Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The baci is a long series of chanted blessings and exhortations to welcome back any ‘kwans’ or body spirits that might have been lost. In traditional Lao culture it is believed that elephants, like humans, have 32 kwan (or souls), vital for health and spiritual wellbeing. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    A0029609cc_1.jpg
  • Spectators watch the elephant procession at the stadium, Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    DSCF4962cc_1.jpg
  • A domesticated male Asian elephant at the Sayaboury Elephant Festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    A0029711cc_1.jpg
  • A domesticated Asian elephant with a tinsel decorated tail ready for the procession at the annual Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029396cc_1.jpg
  • The procession of domesticated Asian elephants crosses the Nam Hung river at the Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029317cc_1.jpg
  • A pile of bricks in the recently relocated village of Ban Thong Chalern in Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Ban Thong Chalern consists of three villages (Khmu and Lao Loum) which have been joined together and relocated due to the ongoing construction of the Xayaburi Dam on the Lower Mekong river in Northern Laos.
    DSCF4905cc_1.jpg
  • A mahout washes Mae Khram Di, a female Asian elephant and her baby Noy An 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.
    A0030088cc_1.jpg
  • A mahout (handler) a male Asian elephant with decorated tusks leans his head against a tree before the procession of 67 elephants at the Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury. The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    A0029699cc_1.jpg
  • Buddhist monks and important local dignitaries during the baci ceremony at the Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The baci is a long series of chanted blessings and exhortations to welcome back any ‘kwans’ or body spirits that might have been lost. In traditional Lao culture it is believed that elephants, like humans, have 32 kwan (or souls), vital for health and spiritual wellbeing.<br />
<br />
Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029593cc_1.jpg
  • Portrait of a Yumbri ethnic minority boy and his new radio in Ban Na Kong village, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The Yumbri otherwise known as Yellow Leaves, Tong Luang or Mlabri are the last remaining hunter-gatherer Austroasiatic-speaking community living in the primary forests and river basins of the Nam Poui region in Sayaboury province  They migrate by group in the forest seeking edible natural resources however these days they have a close relationship with villages on the edge of the Nam Poui forest where they trade forest products for their daily necessities. They are Laos' smallest ethnic group with estimates of the numbers of Yumbri remaining varying between 21 and 30 individuals.
    A0029740cc_1.jpg
  • A young Yumbri ethnic minority boy smoking a cigarette at their camp in the forests of the Nam Poui NPA (National Protected Area), Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The Yumbri otherwise known as Yellow Leaves, Tong Luang or Mlabri are the last remaining hunter-gatherer Austroasiatic-speaking community living in the primary forests and river basins of the Nam Poui region in Sayaboury province. They migrate by group in the forest seeking edible natural resources and live in temporary shelters made from bamboo and leaves. They are Laos' smallest ethnic group with estimates of the numbers of Yumbri remaining varying between 21 and 30 individuals.
    A0029720cc_1.jpg
  • The Sayaboury Elephant Festival begins with a parade of the 11 districts in the province, each district showing its individual lifestyle with colourful dresses, local music, dance and products from the district. <br />
<br />
Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    A0029491cc_1.jpg
  • A Yumbri ethnic minority boy sings a song in front of a crowd of Lao tourists at the Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The Yumbri, otherwise known as Yellow Leaves, Tong Luang or Mlabri are the last remaining hunter-gatherer Austroasiatic-speaking community living in the primary forests and river basins of the Nam Poui region in Sayaboury province. They are Laos smallest ethnic group with estimates of the numbers of Yumbri remaining varying between 21 and 30 individuals.
    A0029306cc_1.jpg
  • A new road bridge is currently under construction by the China Road Bridge Corporation over the Mekong river where it borders Oudomxay and Sayaboury provinces, Pak Beng, Lao PDR. Meanwhile rickety car ferries take local people and their motorbikes, cars and lorries, backwards and forwards across the river.
    DSCF4785cc_1.jpg
  • Mahouts with their domesticated female Asian elephant decorated ready for the procession at the annual Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029330cc_1.jpg
  • An elderly Yumbri ethnic minority woman sitting at the groups camp in the forests of the Nam Poui NPA (National Protected Area), Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The Yumbri otherwise known as Yellow Leaves, Tong Luang or Mlabri are the last remaining hunter-gatherer Austroasiatic-speaking community living in the primary forests and river basins of the Nam Poui region in Sayaboury province. They migrate by group in the forest seeking edible natural resources. They are Laos' smallest ethnic group with estimates of the numbers of Yumbri remaining varying between 21 and 30 individuals.
    A0029734cc_1.jpg
  • An Asian elephant at the Sayaboury Elephant Festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    A0029667cc_1.jpg
  • A mahout (handler) washes his Asian elephant in the Nam Hung river at the Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    A0029658cc_1.jpg
  • Decorated elephants with their mahouts ready for the procession at the annual Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR.  Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029293cc_1.jpg
  • A mahout and his male Asian elephant ready for the procession at the annual Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029262cc_1.jpg
  • A new road bridge is currently under construction by the China Road Bridge Corporation over the Mekong river where it borders Oudomxay and Sayaboury provinces, Pak Beng, Lao PDR. Meanwhile passengers leave a rickety car ferry which takes local people and their motorbikes, cars and lorries, backwards and forwards across the river.
    DSCF4807cc_1.jpg
  • An elderly Yumbri ethnic minority couple sitting at their camp in the forests of the Nam Poui NPA (National Protected Area), Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The Yumbri otherwise known as Yellow Leaves, Tong Luang or Mlabri are the last remaining hunter-gatherer Austroasiatic-speaking community living in the primary forests and river basins of the Nam Poui region in Sayaboury province. They migrate by group in the forest seeking edible natural resources. They are Laos' smallest ethnic group with estimates of the numbers of Yumbri remaining varying between 21 and 30 individuals.
    A0029722cc_1.jpg
  • A mahout and his female Asian elephant ready for the procession at the annual Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029648cc_1.jpg
  • An Asian elephant wearing a religious decoration at the Sayaboury Elephant Festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    A0029637cc_1.jpg
  • A new road bridge is currently under construction by the China Road Bridge Corporation over the Mekong river where it borders Oudomxay and Sayaboury provinces, Pak Beng, Lao PDR. Meanwhile passengers leave a rickety car ferry which takes local people and their motorbikes, cars and lorries, backwards and forwards across the river.
    DSCF4789cc_1.jpg
  • 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.
    A0030101cc_1.jpg
  • Noy An, a female baby Asian elephant born in January 2015 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. It relies on voluntary participation and aims to support mahouts involved in logging to bear the cost of breeding their elephant.
    A0030040cc_1.jpg
  • A mahout (handler) with Mae Khram Di, a female Asian elephant and her baby Noy An 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. It relies on voluntary participation and aims to support mahouts involved in logging to bear the cost of breeding their elephant.
    A0030034cc_1.jpg
  • Portrait of a young Yumbri ethnic minority girl smoking a cigarette at the groups camp in the Nam Poui NPA (National Protected Area), Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The Yumbri otherwise known as Yellow Leaves, Tong Luang or Mlabri are the last remaining hunter-gatherer Austroasiatic-speaking community living in the primary forests and river basins of the Nam Poui region in Sayaboury province. They migrate by group in the forest seeking edible natural resources. They are Laos' smallest ethnic group with estimates of the numbers of Yumbri remaining varying between 21 and 30 individuals.
    A0029726cc_1.jpg
  • The recently relocated village of Ban Thong Chalern in Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Ban Thong Chalern consists of three villages (Khmu and Lao Loum) which have been joined together due to relocation because of the ongoing construction of the Xayaburi Dam in Northern Laos. The Xayaburi Dam is a hydroelectric dam under construction on the Lower Mekong River approximately 30 kilometres east of Xayaburi town in Northern Laos. The project is surrounded in controversy due to complaints from downstream riparians and environmentalists that the dam would cause significant and irreversible damage to the river's ecosystem. Funded by a Thai company, 90% of the electricity produced by the dam has already been pre-sold to Thailand.
    A0029193cc_1.jpg
  • Pheng prepares an indigo dye bath in traditional ceramic pots for dyeing cotton fabric in the Tai Lue village of Ban Viengkao, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Indigo dye is made from the fresh leaves and stem of the indigo plant which are fermented and then mixed with limestone to turn it the distinctive blue colour. One of the most ethnically diverse countries in Southeast Asia, Laos has 49 officially recognised ethnic groups although there are many more self-identified and sub groups. These groups are distinguished by their own customs, beliefs and rituals.
    A0029154cc_1.jpg
  • A male Asian elephant with decorated tusks ready for the procession at the Sayaboury Elephant Festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    A0029687cc_1.jpg
  • A mahout (handler) prepares to wash his Asian elephant in the river at the Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    A0029666cc_1.jpg
  • The parade of 67 elephants at The Sayaboury Elephant Festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    A0029565cc_1.jpg
  • Domesticated Asian elephants preparing to join the procession at the annual Sayaboury Elephant Festival. Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury. The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029285cc_1.jpg
  • The Mekong river during the dry season in Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The Mekong is a trans-boundary river in Southeast Asia, the source is in the Tibetan plateau and it then flows through China's Yunnan province, Burma (Myanmar), Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. At around 4,350 km (2,703 miles) long, it is the world's 12th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia.
    DSCF4818cc_1.jpg
  • A female Asian elephant 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.
    A0030069cc_1.jpg
  • 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.
    A0030062cc_1.jpg
  • The recently relocated village of Ban Thong Chalern in Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Ban Thong Chalern consists of three villages (Khmu and Lao Loum) which have been joined together due to relocation because of the ongoing construction of the Xayaburi Dam in Northern Laos. The Xayaburi Dam is a hydroelectric dam under construction on the Lower Mekong River approximately 30 kilometres east of Xayaburi town in Northern Laos. The project is surrounded in controversy due to complaints from downstream riparians and environmentalists that the dam would cause significant and irreversible damage to the river's ecosystem. Funded by a Thai company, 90% of the electricity produced by the dam has already been pre-sold to Thailand.
    A0029199cc_1.jpg
  • A mahout (handler) hands his Asian elephant a piece of sugar cane during the baci ceremony at Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The baci is a long series of chanted blessings and exhortations to welcome back any ‘kwans’ or body spirits that might have been lost. In traditional Lao culture it is believed that elephants, like humans, have 32 kwan (or souls), vital for health and spiritual wellbeing.<br />
<br />
Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephats are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029587cc_1.jpg
  • A mahout feeds his elephant sugar cane during the procession at the Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029563cc_1.jpg
  • The Sayaboury Elephant Festival begins with a parade of the 11 districts in the province, each district showing its individual lifestyle with colourful dresses, local music, dance and products from the district. <br />
<br />
Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    A0029504cc_1.jpg
  • Mae Khram Di, a female Asian elephant and her baby Noy An at their baci ceremony 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. It relies on voluntary participation and aims to support mahouts involved in logging to bear the cost of breeding their elephant.
    A0030057cc_1.jpg
  • Mae Khram Di, a female Asian elephant and her baby Noy An during their baci ceremony 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. It relies on voluntary participation and aims to support mahouts involved in logging to bear the cost of breeding their elephant.
    A0030055cc_1.jpg
  • Mae Khram Di, a female Asian elephant and her baby Noy An 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. It relies on voluntary participation and aims to support mahouts involved in logging to bear the cost of breeding their elephant.
    A0030039cc_1.jpg
  • Portrait of a Yumbri ethnic minority man at the groups camp in the forests of the Nam Poui NPA (National Protected Area), Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The Yumbri otherwise known as Yellow Leaves, Tong Luang or Mlabri are the last remaining hunter-gatherer Austroasiatic-speaking community living in the primary forests and river basins of the Nam Poui region in Sayaboury province. They migrate by group in the forest seeking edible natural resources. They are Laos' smallest ethnic group with estimates of the numbers of Yumbri remaining varying between 21 and 30 individuals.
    A0029736cc_1.jpg
  • A crowd of people cross a rustic bamboo bridge over the Nam Hung river in Sayaboury to attend the Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR.
    DSCF4958cc_1.jpg
  • A domesticated male Asian elephant at the Sayaboury Elephant Festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    A0029713cc_1.jpg
  • The Sayaboury Elephant Festival begins with a parade of the 11 districts in the province, each district showing its individual lifestyle with colourful dresses, local music, dance and products from the district. <br />
<br />
Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    A0029493cc_1.jpg
  • Two mahouts (handlers) riding on the necks of their female Asian elephants who are also carrying chains around their necks at Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029426cc_1.jpg
  • A professional photographer sells framed photographs of elephants copulating at the Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR.
    A0029371cc_1.jpg
  • The front feet of an Asian elephant decorated ready for the procession at the annual Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029291cc_1.jpg
  • A domesticated female Asian elephant holding sugar cane in her trunk and wearing a traditional wooden bell at the Sayaboury Elephant Festival. Sayaboury province, Lao PDR.<br />
<br />
Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029219cc_1.jpg
  • A mahout (handler) and his female Asian elephant at the Sayaboury Elephant Festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.<br />
<br />
The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029216cc_1.jpg
  • A Yumbri ethnic minority woman and her baby with other family members at their camp in the forests of the Nam Poui NPA (National Protected Area), Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The Yumbri otherwise known as Yellow Leaves, Tong Luang or Mlabri are the last remaining hunter-gatherer Austroasiatic-speaking community living in the primary forests and river basins of the Nam Poui region in Sayaboury province. They migrate by group in the forest seeking edible natural resources. They are Laos' smallest ethnic group with estimates of the numbers of Yumbri remaining varying between 21 and 30 individuals.
    A0029715cc_1.jpg
  • A Prai (Lao Mai) ethnic minority woman gathers broom grass (kok kham) which will later be transformed into brooms to be sold at her roadside stall, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. One of the most ethnically diverse countries in Southeast Asia, Laos has 49 officially recognised ethnic groups although there are many more self-identified and sub groups. These groups are distinguished by their own customs, beliefs and rituals.
    A0029165cc_1.jpg
  • A mahout (handler) eats his breakfast in the early morning whilst waiting to join the procession of elephants at the annual Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. <br />
<br />
Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.<br />
<br />
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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029242cc_1.jpg
  • Mae Khram Di, a female Asian elephant and her baby Noy An 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.
    DSCF5123cc_1.jpg
  • A mahout and his female Asian elephant leave the water after enjoying 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.
    A0030064cc_1.jpg
  • Local people praying at the baci ceremony with several domesticated Asian elephants and their mahouts in the background, Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The baci is a long series of chanted blessings and exhortations to welcome back any ‘kwans’ or body spirits that might have been lost. In traditional Lao culture it is believed that elephants, like humans, have 32 kwan (or souls), vital for health and spiritual wellbeing. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    DSCF5015cc_1.jpg
  • A mahout (handler) and two Asian elephant 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.
    A0030029cc_1.jpg
  • A man walks down the road carrying his young son in the recently relocated village of Ban Thong Chalern in Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Ban Thong Chalern consists of three villages (Khmu and Lao Loum) which have been joined together and relocated because of the ongoing construction of the Xayaburi Dam, a major hydroproject on the Lower Mekong in Northern Laos.
    A0029190cc_1.jpg
  • Pheng prepares an indigo dye bath in traditional ceramic pots for dyeing cotton skeins in the Tai Lue village of Ban Viengkao, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Indigo dye is made from the fresh leaves and stem of the indigo plant which are fermented and then mixed with limestone to turn it the distinctive blue colour. One of the most ethnically diverse countries in Southeast Asia, Laos has 49 officially recognised ethnic groups although there are many more self-identified and sub groups. These groups are distinguished by their own customs, beliefs and rituals.
    A0029159cc_1.jpg
  • Local people praying at the baci ceremony with several domesticated Asian elephants and their mahouts in the background, Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The baci is a long series of chanted blessings and exhortations to welcome back any ‘kwans’ or body spirits that might have been lost. In traditional Lao culture it is believed that elephants, like humans, have 32 kwan (or souls), vital for health and spiritual wellbeing. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    DSCF5001cc_1.jpg
  • Balloons in the shape of elephants, ducks, parrots, ducks, dinosaurs and tigers for sale at the Sayaboury Elephant Festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    A0029441cc_1.jpg
  • Two mahouts (handlers) wash their domesticated male Asian elephants in the river during the Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029390cc_1.jpg
  • A domesticated Asian elephant decorated ready for the procession at the annual Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029288cc_1.jpg
  • A male Asian elephant rests his head against a tree while waiting for the procession at the annual Sayaboury elephant festival, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029266cc_1.jpg
  • The road checkpoint before entering the Xayaburi Dam construction site, a hydroelectric dam on the Lower Mekong River approximately 30 kilometres east of Xayaburi town in Northern Laos. The project is surrounded in controversy due to complaints from downstream riparians and environmentalists that the dam would cause significant and irreversible damage to the river's ecosystem. Funded by a Thai company, 90% of the electricity produced by the dam has already been pre-sold to Thailand.
    DSCF4826cc_1.jpg
  • The Mekong river during the dry season in Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The Mekong is a trans-boundary river in Southeast Asia, the source is in the Tibetan plateau and it then flows through China's Yunnan province, Burma (Myanmar), Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. At around 4,350 km (2,703 miles) long, it is the world's 12th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia.
    DSCF4820cc_1.jpg
  • A new road bridge is currently under construction by the China Road Bridge Corporation over the Mekong river where it borders Oudomxay and Sayaboury provinces, Pak Beng, Lao PDR. Meanwhile rickety car ferries take local people and their motorbikes, cars and lorries, backwards and forwards across the river.
    DSCF4787cc_1.jpg
  • The recently relocated village of Ban Thong Chalern in Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Ban Thong Chalern consists of three villages (Khmu and Lao Loum) which have been joined together due to relocation because of the ongoing construction of the Xayaburi Dam in Northern Laos. The Xayaburi Dam is a hydroelectric dam under construction on the Lower Mekong River approximately 30 kilometres east of Xayaburi town in Northern Laos. The project is surrounded in controversy due to complaints from downstream riparians and environmentalists that the dam would cause significant and irreversible damage to the river's ecosystem. Funded by a Thai company, 90% of the electricity produced by the dam has already been pre-sold to Thailand.
    A0029201cc_1.jpg
  • A view of Ban Neunsavang - originally four villages (Khmu and Lao Loum) which have been joined together due to relocation because of the ongoing construction of the Xayaburi Dam in Northern Laos. The Xayaburi Dam is a hydroelectric dam under construction on the Lower Mekong River approximately 30 kilometres east of Xayaburi town in Northern Laos. The project is surrounded in controversy due to complaints from downstream riparians and environmentalists that the dam would cause significant and irreversible damage to the river's ecosystem. Funded by a Thai company, 90% of the electricity produced by the dam has already been pre-sold to Thailand.
    A0029185cc_1.jpg
  • A roadside stall selling brooms made from kok kham, a type of wild grass by Prai ethnic minority women in Sayaboury province, Lao PDR.
    A0029183cc_1.jpg
  • Pheng dyeing homegrown cotton in an indigo dye bath in traditional ceramic pots in the Tai Lue village of Ban Viengkao, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Indigo dye is made from the fresh leaves and stem of the indigo plant which are fermented and then mixed with limestone to turn it the distinctive blue colour. One of the most ethnically diverse countries in Southeast Asia, Laos has 49 officially recognised ethnic groups although there are many more self-identified and sub groups. These groups are distinguished by their own customs, beliefs and rituals.
    A0029157cc_1.jpg
  • A small crowd of local people gather as a mahout (handler) removes a banknote from the trunk of his Asian elephant during the procession of 67 elephants around the town of Sayaboury during the Sayaboury Elephant Festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    DSCF4918cc_1.jpg
  • The Sayaboury Elephant Festival begins with a parade of the 11 districts in the province, each district showing its individual lifestyle with colourful dresses, local music, dance and products from the district. <br />
<br />
Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    A0029529cc_1.jpg
  • Mae Khram Di, a female Asian elephant and her baby Noy An 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.
    DSCF5129cc_1.jpg
  • A Prai (Lao Mai) ethnic minority woman gathers broom grass (kok kham) which will later be transformed into brooms to be sold at her roadside stall, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. One of the most ethnically diverse countries in Southeast Asia, Laos has 49 officially recognised ethnic groups although there are many more self-identified and sub groups. These groups are distinguished by their own customs, beliefs and rituals.
    A0029163cc_1.jpg
  • Two young Lao boys riding on the back of a female Asian elephant carrying chains at Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029434cc_1.jpg
  • A domesticated Asian elephant with a tinsel decoration on her tail ready for the procession at the annual Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029407cc_1.jpg
  • A domesticated female Asian elephant and her mahout at the annual Sayaboury Elephant Festival. Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029215cc_1.jpg
  • A domesticated female Asian elephant eating sugar cane wears a traditional wooden bell at the annual Sayaboury Elephant Festival. Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury. The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephants are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029213cc_1.jpg
  • A pile of strings and hooks used for fishing in the river, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. For families living away from the main roads and markets, food caught or collected from the wild, especially edible plants and small animals still make up fifty per cent of their diet.
    DSCF4765cc_1.jpg
  • Mae Khram Di, a female Asian elephant and her baby Noy An 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.
    A0030084cc_1.jpg
  • A Prai (Lao Mai) ethnic minority woman gathers broom grass (kok kham) which will later be transformed into brooms to be sold at her roadside stall, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. One of the most ethnically diverse countries in Southeast Asia, Laos has 49 officially recognised ethnic groups although there are many more self-identified and sub groups. These groups are distinguished by their own customs, beliefs and rituals.
    A0029179cc_1.jpg
  • A Tai Lue mahout (handler) and his elephant during the Baci ceremony at the Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    A0029606cc_1.jpg
  • Mahouts and their elephants at a baci ceremony at the Sayaboury elephant festival, Sayaboury province, Lao PDR. The baci is a long series of chanted blessings and exhortations to welcome back any ‘kwans’ or body spirits that might have been lost. In traditional Lao culture it is believed that elephants, like humans, have 32 kwan (or souls), vital for health and spiritual wellbeing.<br />
<br />
Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout. 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. Elephats are trained and worked by a mahout (handler) whose relationship to the animal is often described as a marriage and can last a lifetime. 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.
    A0029597cc_1.jpg
  • The Sayaboury Elephant Festival begins with a parade of the 11 districts in the province, each district showing its individual lifestyle with colourful dresses, local music, dance and products from the district. <br />
<br />
Originally created by ElefantAsia in 2007, the 3-day elephant festival takes place in February in the province of Sayaboury with over 80,000 local and international people coming together to experience the grand procession of decorated elephants. It is now organised by the provincial government of Sayaboury.The Elephant Festival is designed to draw the public's attention to the condition of the endangered elephant, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the ancestral tradition of elephant domestication and the way of life chosen by the mahout.
    A0029497cc_1.jpg
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
x

In Pictures

  • About
  • Contact
  • Join In Pictures
  • Archive
    • All Galleries
    • Search
    • Cart
    • Lightbox
    • Client Area