Scientists estimated that Vietnam is home to only about 130 wild elephants today, living in three small groups.

Major threats to elephants include habitat loss and hunting, mainly to exploit the ivory tusks found only on male Asian elephants. Elephants are also captured live for use as work animals and for tourism.

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Human-elephant conflict over land remains a major concern in Vietnam, where expanding and shifting agriculture, as well as human settlement encroaches upon the last remaining areas where elephants survive in the wild.
Photo by Fauna - Jenny Daltry

This young male elephant was the victim of a snare trap, set for other wildlife. Injured by the wire trap, the baby elephant later died, probably as a result of subsequent infection from the wound.
Photo by Mark Grindley/PARC Project

A chain prevents this captive elephant at Hanoi Zoo from moving far. Elephants need lots of open space in the wild to roam and forage.
Photo by ENV