Laos Elephants Could Be Extinct In 50 Years

Vientiane, Laos (AHN) - Environmentalists are sounding the alarm on the fate of the Laotian wild elephant. Lost habitat and hours of grueling work are pushing birth rates down, and, if the trend continues, could drive the prized pachyderms to extinction in 50 years.

Ancient Laos was known as Lan Xang, the "Land of One Million Elephants" but today fewer than 2,000 of the animals survive and about half of them are driving the problem by helping log the country's last virgin forests.

Birth rates have plummeted as wild populations have been isolated and domesticated elephants often spend eight hours a day in remote logging camps, leaving them exhausted and far from potential mates.

France-based non-profit group ElefantAsia is pinning its hopes on eco-tourism and revitalizing the elephant's ancient sacred role in Lao culture before its too late.

ElefantAsia co-founder Sebastien Duffillot said it's a race against time as poachers, dam builders, loggers and farmers are taking a deadly toll on the endangered species.

At their current rate of decline, he said Laos' wild elephants could be extinct within 50 years.

He added that there is only one birth every two years, which is not sustainable.

Domesticated elephants number about 570, a 20 percent drop over the last decade.

In all, the World Wide Fund for Nature estimates, as few as 25,000 wild and 15,000 captive Asian elephants may be left.

In their heyday, elephants served as the country's trucks, taxis and battle tanks.

Laos is communist-ruled today, but it used to be a kingdom that kept its independence by sending elephants as tribute to neighboring China and Vietnam.

To raise awareness about the plight of the majestic animals, ElefantAsia recently organized Laos' first elephant festival in the remote northwestern district of Hongsa.

The event featured colorful elephant parades, skills demonstrations and religious rituals in which Buddhist monks performed rites for the pachyderms traditionally honored for their strength, spirit and intelligence.