Elephant locations in Vietnam

87 locations has kept elephants in Vietnam

There is presently 82 (25,42) living elephants in locations in Vietnam in this database

Vietnam
Region:	Vietnam is in this database included in asia
Wild elephants:	Vietnam has about 97 (min. 83, max. 110) wild elephants. Source:Cao Thi Ly (2011)
Location holdings:	87 locations has kept 147 elephants in Vietnam (Database tables with collection of elephants further down on the page)
Elephants in locations	82 (25,42) living 65 (17,18) dead

Hunting, forest clearances and warfare that saw forests bombed and poisoned with Agent Orange and other defoliants, made elephants functionally extinct. Conservationists hope inviable herds will cross to Cambodia and Laos.

Human-elephant conflict

There were 26 deaths of people reported in the period from 1993 to 2004 due to HEC (FPD 2004).

Wild population

1975: Vietnam was estimated to have as many as 2,000 wild elephants in 1975.

1985: According to historian Duong Trung Quoc, Viet Nam had over 500 wild elephants in 1985.

1996: population was estimated to 300-600 (Santiapillai, IUCN 1996).

2008: Wild elephant population 76-94 (Sukumar 2008)

2009: Based on the information of the frequency of tracks and statistical analysis Department of Forest Resources and Environment Management(FREM) of Tay Nguyen University estimated the number of wild elephants to be around 83 to 110
individuals.

2023: Only around 100 wild elephants are estimated to survive in Vietnam, separated into 22 groups across the country.

The few surviving wild herds live in areas close to Vietnam’s borders with Cambodia and Laos. The largest groups are in three national parks: Cat Tien, Pu Mat and Yok Don. Even then, Cat Tien and Pu Mat are home to less than 20 elephants, while between 28 and 60 are estimated to live in Yok Don, according to data from the Vietnam Forestry Administration. The rest of the nation’s wild elephants are sparsely scattered across nine provinces, with four provinces counting just a single wild elephant.

Captive population

Captive elephants in Vietnam had dwindled from 600 in 1980 to 165 in 2006, according to the International Zoo Yearbook 2006.

2000: 165 elephants.

Currently (2011) there are 82 individual with 21 male and 61 female of domestic elephants in Vietnam. -Source: The current situation of elephants in Vietnam, by Cao Thi Ly, Tai Nguyen University, Vietnam

2019: No calves have survived birth since 1989 in a Central Highlands district where elephants are considered kin and buried among family members. (VN Express)

Dak Lak

According to “Tame Elephants in the Cultural Life of M’Nong” by Tran Tan Vinh, there were 503 tame elephants in Dak Lak in 1987. By 1997, the number was only 166, of which 64 were in Buon Don. Now, there are only 36 tame elephants left in the entire province. Buon Don has the highest number with 24, while private owners have another 12 and the remainder belong to Yok Don National Park and tour companies.

According to Dak Lak authorities, four tamed elephants died in 2010 due to disease and old age. This province now has only 56 tamed elephants, including merely three of less than 15 years old, 43 that are 15-45 years old (14 female and 29 male), and the remaining are old and weak elephants.

In Daklak, According to Daklak FPD, numbers of domestic elephants lessen along times as mentioned, 1980 year there were 502 individuals, 1990 that numbers were 298 individuals, declined to 96 individual in 2000, 64 individuals in 2006. In 2009, there were 61 individuals with 23 male and 38 female. However, they are only 53 individuals up to now with 19 male and 34 female.
-Source: The current situation of elephants in Vietnam, by Cao Thi Ly, Tai Nguyen University, Vietnam

2015: Only during the beginning of four months in 2015, 5 elephants died. Four of the elephants that died were captive and one was a wild elephant. (Source)

2019: On the morning of December 1, Bak Kham gave birth to a stillborn infant the family was unable to resuscitate, having blown air into its trunk for nearly 30 minutes. (VN Express)

Recommended Citation

Koehl, Dan, Facts about elephants in Vietnam. Elephant Encyclopedia, (2024) available online retrieved 2024-11-09 at https://www.elephant.se/country.php?name=Vietnam.
(archived at the Wayback machine)

Sources, among others

Current status of Asian elephants in Vietnam, by Cao Thi Ly, http://www.asesg.org/gajah35.htm">Gajah nr 35, 2012. (Journal of the IUCN/SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group)

VN Express, 26.12.2019 https://e.vnexpress.net/news/life/trend/exploitation-in-central-highlands-robs-elephant-calves-of-first-breath-4024420.html

https://www.asesg.org/PDFfiles/2020/51-72-NewsBriefs.pdf

https://chinadialogue.net/en/nature/conflict-threatens-vietnams-last-elephants/

Internal relevant links

The elephant database startpage. Statistics
News about elephants in Vietnam (From the sister site Elephant News)

Name	Elephant collection				Place
Ama Kong (private) Kept totally 0 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Krong Na commune (map)Buon Don District Dak Lak Province Vietnam Western Higlands
Buon Don Eco Tourism Company (camp) Kept totally 9 elephants	, 5 present (2,3)	1 births	1 relocated	3 deaths	Krong Na commune (map)Buon Don District Dak Lak Province Vietnam Western Higlands
Buon Don tour company (camp) Kept totally 3 elephants	, 1 present (0,1)	0 births	0 relocated	2 deaths	Krong Na communeBuon Don District Dak Lak Province Vietnam Western Higlands
Buon Don Tourist Centre (camp) Kept totally 4 elephants	, 3 present (1,2)	0 births	0 relocated	1 deaths	Krong Na communeBuon Don District Dak Lak Province Vietnam Western Higlands
Buon Don village (village) Kept totally 14 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	14 relocated	0 deaths	Krong Na commune (map)Buon Don District Dak Lak Province Vietnam Western Higlands
Can Tho City Park military base (camp) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	1 relocated	0 deaths	Can Tho (map)
Cat Tien National Park (wild) Kept totally 11 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	1 births	4 relocated	7 deaths	Dong Nai Province
Circus Hoang Nam (circus) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	1 deaths	(map)
Dai Nam Open Zoo (zoo) Kept totally 2 elephants	, 2 present (1,1)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Ho Chi Minh City
Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre (ECC ) (sanctuary) Kept totally 4 elephants	, 3 present (1,2)	0 births	0 relocated	1 deaths	Krong Na commune (map)Buon Don District Dak Lak Province Vietnam Western Higlands
Dak Lak province unspecified camp (camp) Kept totally 14 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	10 relocated	4 deaths	(map) Dak Lak Province Vietnam Western Higlands
Dak Nong province unspecified camp (camp) Kept totally 4 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	4 relocated	0 deaths	Gia Nghĩa (map) Dak Nong province Central Highlands
Dang Nang Long (private) Kept totally 3 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	3 relocated	0 deaths	Lak District Dak Lak Province Vietnam Western Higlands
Dieu Cuoc (private) Kept totally 2 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	1 births	2 relocated	0 deaths	Phu Son commune (map) Binh Phuoc province
Dong Nai province (wild) Kept totally 8 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	6 births	5 relocated	3 deaths	Dong Nai (map) Dong Nai Province
Ea Sup village unspecified owner (private) Kept totally 8 elephants	, 3 present (0,0)	0 births	5 relocated	0 deaths	Ea sup district (map) Dak Lak Province
Emperor Bao Dai of Vietnam (private) Kept totally 0 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Hue (map) Thua Thien-Huế province
Gia Lai province unspecified camp (camp) Kept totally 6 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	6 relocated	0 deaths	Pleiku (map) Gia Lai province Central Highlands
H Mui (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (1,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	(map)Lak District Dak Lak Province Vietnam Western Higlands
H Um Bing (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (0,1)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	(map)Lak District Dak Lak Province Vietnam Western Higlands
Hanoi Zoo (zoo) Kept totally 3 elephants	, 1 present (0,1)	0 births	0 relocated	2 deaths	Hanoi (map) Thu le - Ba Dình District
HCM City Circus Troupe (circus) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (0,1)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Ho Chi Minh city (map)
Ho Chi Minh City (private) Kept totally 2 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	2 relocated	0 deaths	Ho Chi Minh City (map)
Ksor Cham (private) Kept totally 2 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	1 relocated	1 deaths	Chu Mo Commune (map)Ia Pa District Gia Lai province Central Highlands
Ky Lao (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	1 relocated	0 deaths	Krong NaBuon Don District Dak Lak Province Vietnam Western Higlands
Lak Lake Travel Co (camp) Kept totally 5 elephants	, 5 present (1,4)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Lak District Dak Lak Province
Le Van Quyet (private) Kept totally 2 elephants	, 2 present (1,1)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Lak District Dak Lak Province
Mount Elephant elephant camp (camp) Kept totally 9 elephants	, 6 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	3 deaths	Da Lat Lam Dong
N’Thu K’nul (Khunjunob) (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	1 relocated	0 deaths	Krong Na commune Buon Don District, Dak Lak Province
Nay Phai Lao (private) Kept totally 0 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths
Nghe An province (wild) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	1 births	0 relocated	1 deaths	Vinh North Central Coast
Ngo Dinh Diem (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	1 deaths
Prenn Waterfall elephant camp (camp) Kept totally 3 elephants	, 3 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Dalat
R’leo Knul (private) Kept totally 0 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Krong Na commune Buon Don District, Dak Lak Province
Saigon Circus (circus) Kept totally 2 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	2 relocated	0 deaths	Ho Chi Minh city
Saigon Port (seaport) Kept totally 0 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	(map)
Saigon Zoo (Ho Chi Minh Zoo) (zoo) Kept totally 23 elephants	, 6 present (1,5)	0 births	15 relocated	2 deaths	Ho Chi Minh City (map)
Sao Mai Circus (circus) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (0,1)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Hai Duong
Siu Kiem (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	1 deaths	Pleiku (map) Gia Lai province Central Highlands
Tanh Linh National park (wild) Kept totally 5 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	2 relocated	3 deaths	Tanh Linh District Bình Thuận Province
Tay Nguyen Biological Ecology Museum (museum) Kept totally 0 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Da Lat (map) Lam Dong Central Highlands
Thai Hoa Palace (private) Kept totally 2 elephants	, 1 present (1,0)	0 births	0 relocated	1 deaths	Hue (map) Thua Thien-Huế province
Trung Nguyen coffe (private) Kept totally 2 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	2 relocated	0 deaths	Ban Me Thuoc
Viet Cong elephant camp (NLF) (camp) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	1 relocated	0 deaths
Vietnam Circus Federation (circus) Kept totally 7 elephants	, 4 present (0,4)	0 births	2 relocated	1 deaths
Vietnam unspecified location (private) Kept totally 9 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	16 births	9 relocated	0 deaths	(map)
Y Bhem (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	1 deaths
Y Bich (private) Kept totally 6 elephants	, 2 present (0,0)	2 births	3 relocated	1 deaths	Krong Na commune, Buon Don District Dak Lak Province
Y Bo Ksor (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (1,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Krong Na commune, Buon Don District Dak Lak Province
Y Ca Triek (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (0,1)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Lak District Dak Lak Province
Y Chon Triek (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (0,1)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Lak District Dak Lak Province
Y Chu Hlong (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (1,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Lak District Dak Lak Province
Y Dhiu H Drue (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Krong Ana District Dak Lak Province
Y Dhui (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	1 deaths	Buon Don District Dak Lak Province
Y Diet (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	1 relocated	0 deaths
Y Don Eban (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (1,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Krong Na commune, Buon Don District Dak Lak Province
Y Dya H Mok (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (1,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Krong Ana District Dak Lak Province
Y Gah H Mok (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (1,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Lak District Dak Lak Province
Y Glur B Krong (private) Kept totally 5 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	4 births	3 relocated	2 deaths	Krong Na commune, Buon Don District Dak Lak Province
Y Hlach Uong (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (0,1)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Lak District Dak Lak Province
Y Ju B Krong (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (0,1)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Lak District Dak Lak Province
Y Jut B Krong (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (0,1)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Lak District Dak Lak Province
Y Khoi B Krong (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (0,1)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Lak District Dak Lak Province
Y Khu Eban (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (0,1)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Krong Na commune, Buon Don District Dak Lak Province
Y Lanh Nie Kdam (private) Kept totally 2 elephants	, 2 present (1,1)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Krong Na communeBuon Don District Dak Lak Province Western Highlands
Y Lia Buon Ya (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	1 relocated	0 deaths	Krong Na commune, Buon Don District Dak Lak Province
Y Lit Ksor (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (1,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Krong Na commune, Buon Don District Dak Lak Province
Y Ly Srue (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (1,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Lak District Dak Lak Province
Y Mok Uong (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (0,1)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Lak District Dak Lak Province
Y Nghiek Triek (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (0,1)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Lak District Dak Lak Province
Y Nhun H Mmok (Y Nhuan Hmok) (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	1 relocated	0 deaths	Ea Wer commune, Buon Don district Dak Lak Province
Y Oi Hra (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (1,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Krong Na commune, Buon Don District Dak Lak Province
Y Phen Ksor (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	1 deaths	Krong Na commune, Buon Don District Dak Lak Province
Y Phong Srue (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (1,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Lak District Dak Lak Province
Y Prung Eban (Ama Kong) (private) Kept totally 0 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Krong Ana commune Buon Don district, Dak Lak
Y Sam Luk (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (0,1)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Lak District Dak Lak Province
Y So Enuol (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	1 deaths	Lak District Dak Lak Province
Y Sor Hra (private) Kept totally 3 elephants	, 1 present (0,1)	2 births	0 relocated	2 deaths	Krong Na commune, Buon Don District Dak Lak Province
Y Tep Budam (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (1,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Krong Na commune, Buon Don District Dak Lak Province
Y Then Eban (Ay Be) (private) Kept totally 0 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Krong Na commune Buon Don District, Dak Lak Province
Y Thiem Bya (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	1 deaths	Buon Ma Thuot Dak Lak
Y Thok (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	1 relocated	0 deaths
Y Thok Knul (Y Tok) (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	0 births	0 relocated	1 deaths	Krong Na commune, Buon Don District Dak Lak Province
Y Tung Nie (private) Kept totally 1 elephants	, 1 present (1,0)	0 births	0 relocated	0 deaths	Krong Na communeBuon Don District Dak Lak Province Western Highlands
Yo Nie (private) Kept totally 2 elephants	, 1 present (0,1)	1 births	0 relocated	1 deaths	Yang Tao Commune (map)Lak District Dak Lak Province Central Highlands
Yok Don National Park (wild) Kept totally 22 elephants	, 0 present (0,0)	19 births	11 relocated	11 deaths	Krong Na commune, Buon Don District (map) Dak Lak Province
Yok Don National Park elephant camp (camp) Kept totally 14 elephants	, 5 present (3,2)	0 births	5 relocated	4 deaths	Buon Don district (map) Dak Lak

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