DONG NAI, Viet Nam ― With fewer than 200 critically endangered wild elephants remaining in fragmented forest habitats in Viet Nam, urgent action is underway to prevent extinction and reduce human–elephant conflict. Humane World for Animals, formerly Humane Society International, in partnership with the Forestry Administration Department, known as VNFOREST, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, has launched a series of coordinated, science-based, humane and elephant-centered interventions to protect Viet Nam’s wild elephants.
Dr. Doan Hoai Nam, Deputy Director General of VNFOREST said: "The protection of Viet Nam’s last wild elephants is a national priority and a shared responsibility. Through this partnership with Humane World for Animals, we are strengthening science-based approaches and empowering local authorities to safeguard elephants and their habitats for future generations."
Nguyen Thi Hoang, Vice Chairwoman of Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee also highlighted that “Dong Nai is one of Viet Nam’s priority provinces for elephant conservation. Success can only be achieved with the collective effort of society — from saying no to wildlife hunting and trade to spreading positive messages of coexistence. We are committed to working closely with VNFOREST, Humane World for Animals, and experts from Viet Nam and abroad to implement practical solutions that both protect elephants and ensure sustainable livelihoods for local communities. We conserve elephants with all our hearts”.
Humane World for Animals has been providing technical and financial support for a suite of landmark conservation activities, working closely with VNFOREST, provincial governments, local rangers and researchers, and international wildlife experts. Those activities include:
- Training and capacity building. The organization is training law enforcement officers, forest rangers and researchers in elephant conservation techniques, particularly monitoring human-elephant conflict and managing elephant habitats. This includes conducting grid-based distribution surveys in all elephant range provinces and applying lessons learned from a pilot project in Dong Nai.
- Viet Nam elephant conservation research and practice enforcement network. Technical guidance from Humane World for Animals facilitated the launch of Viet Nam’s first-ever elephant conservation research and practice network, designed to strengthen inter-agency coordination and collaboration, improve elephant protection on the ground and empower local capacity to create permanent change.
- Elephant Conservation Week and public awareness campaigns. Stunning camera-trap photos and video footage of wild elephants captured through Humane World for Animals’ monitoring programs were showcased in a special elephant conservation exhibition held in Dong Nai starting on Sept. 19 during Elephant Conservation Week. This exhibition brought the public face-to-face with the reality of elephant conservation in Viet Nam and provided inspiration to policy makers and the public to share their responsibilities and work together to turn from human-elephant conflict to coexistence. Elephant Conservation Week also featured outreach activities across five priority elephant range provinces—Dong Nai, Dak Lak, Da Nang, Ha Tinh and Nghe An—to promote community engagement and support for wild elephant protection, in alignment with the national Vietnam Elephant Conservation Action Plan known as VECAP 2022).
Phuong Tham, country director, Humane World for Animals Viet Nam, said: “Elephants are an irreplaceable part of Viet Nam’s natural and cultural heritage. Our collaboration with VNFOREST and provincial governments ensures that elephant protection and conservation are not only effective but also humane and inclusive, placing elephants and communities at the center of the action.”
This initiative reflects Humane World for Animals’ mission to advance science-based strategic partnerships and community-based conservation. By connecting local participants with global expertise, the organization is helping ensure that the future of Viet Nam’s elephants is one of thriving—not just surviving.