Although Laos used to be known as “The Land of a Million Elephants,” the country now has less than 1,500 total domestic and wild elephants. Elephants are still being used in the logging industry, where they are often given methamphetamines and forced to work constantly subject to physical abuse with little sleep, medical care, or social life. Because an elephant’s gestation and nursing period is almost 4 years, elephant owners in Laos try to prevent elephants from mating as this will result in 4 years of lost wages from the mother and, even if a baby is born, it is not ready for “work” until it reaches the age of 15. Thus, the elephant birth rate in Laos has plunged. On top of this, wild and domesticated elephants are still poached for their tusks. Countries neighboring Laos (including Thailand and Cambodia) already have elephant sanctuaries. However, Laos does not have a sanctuary for elephants. A breeding program for elephants has begun in Laos, but there is no sanctuary for elephants in country.
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