30 September 

ONLY  a  small  number  of  local  visitors and tourists are visiting the  Bodhi  Tahtaung  Elephant Conservation  Camp,  located  in  the  Bodhi  Tahtaung  pagoda  precinct in Monywa, Sagaing Region, according to officials. 

“At  present,  the  camp  is  getting regular visitors. But, the number of visitors is not as high as  it  was  during  opening  time.  Tourists  are  preferring  to  go  to  the Winkabaw and Palin elephant camps.  They  rarely  come  here.  Around  20  tourists  have  visited  the  camp  so  far.  The  camp  receives a high number of visitors during holidays and on Sabbath days. Normally, only 20 to 30 people come to the camp,” said Daw Mi Mi Ko, the head of the Bodhi Tahtaung Elephant Camp. 

The camp was opened on 14 July.  There  are  three  other  elephant camps in Sagaing Region — Natpauk camp in Indaw Township,  Pyarswe  in  Mawlaik,  and  Zalon  Taung  camp  in  Bamauk  Township. 

The  elephant  camps  have  been  opened  to  encourage  the  conservation  of  elephants  and  increase  the  revenue  of  the  regional government, said officials.

As  per  data  from  the  Myanma Timber Enterprise, there are  around  5,000  domesticated  elephants  and  about  1,500  wild  elephants in Myanmar. Their population  is  under  threat  as  they  are  increasingly  being  poached  for ivory and skin.

Win Oo/ Ko Htein (Translated by Ei Myat Mon)