Angkor Wat to stop offering elephant rides
Cambodia’s most popular tourist attraction, Angkor Wat, is set to ban elephant rides.
The rides have been a fixture at the Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap for years but opposition has been building in recent years.
The 14 elephants will be retired and transferred to a conservation and breeding centre by early next year, the Angkor Elephant Group Committee said.
Committee director Oan Kiry said: "In early 2020, our association plans to end the use of elephants to transport tourists.
"They can still watch the elephants and take photos of them in our conservation and breeding centre. We want the elephants to live in as natural a manner as possible."
In 2016, and again in 2018, an elephant collapsed and died at Angkor Wat, causing a backlash against elephant rides which has seen their popularity dwindle over time.
The move has been welcomed by animal rights groups.
Campaign group moving animals said: "The end of elephant rides at Angkor Wat is truly a watershed moment that shows the tide is turning against cruel wildlife tourism.
"More and more tourists no longer want to pay to see animals in chains or captivity, and attractions where elephant riding continues, need to ban these rides if they are to stay in favour with tourists and animal lovers."
Cambodia has a population of about 500 elephants still living in the wild, mostly in Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary and in the Cardamom Mountains.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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