This is because Cambodia is set to ban all elephant rides at the country’s famed Angkor temple park by early next year.
According to a report by news agency AFP, quoting Long Kosal, a spokesman from the Apsara Authority which manages the park, using elephants for business is not appropriate anymore.
The news agency reported that five of the 14 working elephants have been transferred to a community forest about 40km away from the temples.
“They will live out their natural lives there,” Kosal said, adding that the company that owns the elephants will continue to look after them.
The Angkor archaeological complex attracts millions of tourists yearly and many would opt for elephant rides around the temples.
However, the country came under fire recently from animal rights groups for overworking the elephants.
We are extremely glad that the Cambodian authorities are clamping down on such activities, because elephants deserve better.