Wild elephant living alone for nearly 20 years in Nghe An continuously returns to people's houses to rummage

At around midnight on July 11, Mr. Vi Van Kien (37 years old, Tang village, Nam Son commune, Quy Hop), was sleeping when he was awakened by loud noises. Quickly getting up, Mr. Kien was shocked to see a large elephant standing outside, right next to the stilt house. "There were no windows in the house, at that time if it had intended to attack, I would have died. I jumped up, reached out and could have touched its trunk," Mr. Kien said.

This is the third time in the past month that this elephant has visited Mr. Kien's house to rummage for food. "It wasn't afraid at all. It stood for a while and then sat down, very leisurely. A while later it rummaged through the house. But this time it didn't eat salt," Mr. Kien said, adding that after rummaging through his house and trampling a concrete yard, the elephant continued to another household's house. In addition, during the move, the elephant also damaged some newly planted rice fields.

Mr. Kien's family was the one that suffered the most damage caused by this elephant. Because his house is located on the elephant's path, his family often has to welcome this "uninvited guest". Last year, the family's two cows were killed by the elephant. "We can't grow anything, it eats the plants, and destroys the ones we can't eat. It's very tiring. But the problem is not just property, my family has 3 small children so I'm very worried," Mr. Kien added.

This is the only wild elephant left in Quy Hop district, living alone for nearly 20 years. In recent years, this elephant has frequently come to residential areas, causing great damage to people in Bac Son and Nam Son communes. Quy Hop district has also sent a report to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in which it has proposed that departments, branches and sectors inspect and consider the plan to relocate the elephant to Pu Mat National Park, a large area with the function of preserving wildlife. However, moving the elephant seems "impossible".