Shrinking and degrading wild elephant habitats in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak have led to a shortage of food and more conflicts between wild and domestic animals, according to Director of the Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre Huynh Trung Luan.

Degrading wild elephant habitats in Dak Lak province have led to a shortage of food and more conflicts between wild and domestic animals.

The locality has witnessed five conflicts between wild and domestic elephants since March. The wild animals, in group of six to seven, have reportedly been approaching forest ranger stations and residential areas to search for food and attack domestic ones. They hurt seven animals of the centre and killed another in Krong Na commune, Buon Don district.

Luan said that when wild elephants enter the stage called “musth”, they will become more aggressive and hurt others for the right to mate with females.

In a bid to reduce the clashes, the centre has ordered elephant keepers and tourism businesses to enhance measures to protect their animals. Elephants should be cared and protected at home, the centre recommended.

The number of domestic animals in the province drops dramatically to 43 individuals from 502 in 1980. The herd of domestic elephants is facing the threat of extinction as many of them are no longer fertile.-

VNA