Nghe An: Wild elephants come near people's houses to eat bananas and bamboo shoots at night

According to Mr. Ngo Tuyet Linh, owner of a restaurant providing tourism services near Khe Kem waterfall, Luc Da commune, Con Cuong district, on the evening of August 21, while preparing at the restaurant, he saw a wild elephant coming to look for bananas and bamboo shoots in the forest area near the restaurant.

After a while of "strolling" around looking for food and breaking some banana trees, the elephant returned to the forest. "This is the season for bamboo shoots, so this elephant often goes to look for bamboo shoots near Khe Kem waterfall to eat," said Mr. Linh.

Image of wild elephants approaching local houses at Khe Kem waterfall, Con Cuong. Photo: Provided by local people

Confirming the information about the wild elephant "visiting" the area near households in Khe Kem, Mr. Tran Xuan Cuong - Director of Pu Mat National Park said that the elephant mentioned above is the elephant living in the national forest area in Luc Da commune, near Khe Kem waterfall.

"This elephant is quite bold, not afraid of people but very gentle, has never attacked people and often visits the forest areas near people's houses. The forest area in Luc Da has only one elephant living here. Previously, before the establishment of Pu Mat National Park, Luc Da area had two elephants, but because one died, until now there is only one elephant living alone here" - Mr. Tran Xuan Cuong added.

Mr. Cuong also said that currently, in the Pu Mat National Park area, there are 13 wild elephants living, scattered in different districts. Specifically, there are 8 in the forest area of ​​Phuc Son, Anh Son; 4 in the forest area of ​​Tam Quang commune, Tuong Duong and 1 in Luc Da commune, Con Cuong.

Elephant tramples banana trees in the forest near a resident's house on the night of August 21, 2022. Photo: Provided by local residents

These are elephants that are strictly protected according to regulations to maintain and develop wildlife. For elephants in Con Cuong, there is currently no feasible solution for moving and regrouping the herd due to the fragmented terrain and inadequate vehicle and technical conditions.

Pu Mat National Park is located on the administrative boundaries of 3 districts: Anh Son, Con Cuong and Tuong Duong. Con Cuong district alone has a total area of ​​94,000 hectares, spanning 7 communes: Lang Khe, Chau Khe, Luc Da, Mon Son, Yen Khe, Bong Khe, Chi Khe. Pu Mat National Park is a famous nature reserve, with rich flora and fauna, primeval forests with the highest biodiversity in Vietnam. Possessing an extremely unique and diverse ecosystem, wild and majestic nature, along with rich values ​​in terms of geology and geomorphology. Pu Mat National Park is considered one of the world-class "natural museums", strictly protected./.