24 September
The Bago Region Government held an event on 23 September to mark one year without a single elephant found killed in the region by poachers. The event was held at the Oakthar Kyaw Hotel along the Yangon-Mandalay Highway Road in Bago Town.
Dr Saw Nyo Win, the Bago Region Minister for Natural Resources, Environmental Conservation and Development Affairs said the region has seen zero elephants being poached in one whole year, and the number of poachers has also depleted.
The conflict between residents and wild elephants has also decreased due to collaborative action by respective departments, and officials will continue with elephant conservation operations, he added.
Afterwards, Dr Saw Nyo Win and Bago Region Forest Department Director U Zaw Oo presented awards to 80 officials — 20 Forest Department staff and 60 members of the Forestry Police Force and Myanmar Police Force.
In Bago Region, outposts have been set up at elephant pastures, and the concerned departments have been raising awareness on wildlife preservation and poaching.
Tin Soe (Bago)
(Translated by La Wonn)