Elephant fest draws over 150,000 visitors

VIENTIANE,21.02.2012 (KPL) - Annual Elephant Festival 2012, the sixth of its kind, held in Sayaboury district, the same name province, on Feb 17-19, has attracted more than 150,000 domestic and foreign visitors. The event saw the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, Sayaboury Governor Lien Thikeo, parades of 63 elephants and colourful performance and shown by students, youths and local people. “Sayaboury province has largest number of elephant population in the country, as 438 out of 560 elephants are in the province,” said Vice Sayaboury Governor, Mr Bounyang Chandalasan. Elephant population in Laos deceases in number and are at risk of extinction as the majority of them are under 20 years old, and their annual birth rate is only 0.01 birth per one female elephant, he explained. Sayaboury authorities aim the festival at promoting the participation of society in elephant protection in Laos, and in the world as whole, and the engagement of elephants in tourism service, according to the Vice Governor. “The history of Laos has been related with elephants. The Land of A Million Elephant means that Lao PDR used to be place for a very large number of elephants,” said Mr. Bounyang.