The purpose of the museum is educational activities aimed at preserving and protecting wild elephants living in Myanmar, as well as reducing conflicts between elephants and humans.
The exposition in the museum of the oldest zoo in the country, in addition to information about the distribution areas, habits and behavioral features of Asian elephants, presents exhibits demonstrating the history of human interaction with the animal species. Therefore, visitors are shown ivory products, fossils and parts of the elephant skeleton.
Myanmar is the last country in the world where elephants are used in logging. Now this tradition has declined, at least 5 thousand elephants continue to remain in the camps of elephant foresters. Nevertheless, the government of the country does not leave such workers unattended – the animals are under the supervision of veterinarians, and old individuals are not involved in work, continuing to live in so-called shelters for elderly and injured elephants. From 1.4 thousand to 2 thousand animals now live freely in the jungles of Myanmar.
The author of the article is Sofia Chernopyatova
