The treatment of two elderly elephants at the Hanoi public zoo has sparked widespread outrage in Vietnam, prompting calls from animal rights groups for their relocation. Over 70,000 people have already signed an online petition in support of releasing the elephants, named Thai and Banang, to a national park. Vietnamese state media has extensively covered the story in recent weeks.
On Wednesday morning, AFP journalists witnessed the elephants in chains as zookeepers fed them grass and sugarcane. A zoo staff member, speaking anonymously, explained that the elephants are quite fierce and had to be chained due to a broken electric fence. The staff member also shared that the elephants were brought to the zoo from different regions in 2010 and 2014 to prevent fighting between them. Despite being cared for and provided three meals a day, animal welfare organization Animals Asia sent a letter to city authorities urging the elephants’ return to Yok Don National Park.
Animals Asia emphasized the prolonged chaining of the elephants at the Hanoi zoo and warned of their deteriorating health if they continue to remain in captivity. Another image from the Hanoi Zoo shows another shackled elephant, further fueling concerns. Vietnam Animal Eyes, a local animal advocacy group, initiated a petition at the beginning of August to remove the elephants from the zoo. However, the director of the zoo, Le Si Dung, dismissed the push for their freedom as “illogical,” stating that the elephants, aged 60-70 years old, are incapable of survival in the wild.
David Neale, animal welfare director at Animals Asia, believes the elephants’ frustration stems from being unable to exhibit their natural behaviors. He pointed out that Yok Don National Park provides an environment that allows elephants to live well and happily. Meanwhile, critics argue that the Hanoi zoo is more akin to a jail for the elephants and express their dissatisfaction with the conditions. According to environmental groups, Vietnam’s wild elephant population has drastically declined from approximately 2,000 in 1980 to about 100 in 2022. Domesticated elephant numbers have also plummeted from 600 in 1980 to 165 today.
In conclusion, the treatment of the two elderly elephants at the Hanoi public zoo has generated significant backlash, with calls for their release to a national park. Concerns about their well-being and the decline of Vietnam’s elephant population have prompted animal rights groups and supporters to voice their demands for change.
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