80 wild elephants left in Vietnam

Hanoi - There are only 80 elephants left in the wild in Vietnam, and they are in danger due to illegal hunting and deforestation, state media reported Friday. The state-run newspaper Lao Dong quoted experts at a Vietnam Forest Management Agency workshop on elephant preservation as saying the population was dropping fast.

Vietnamese press have reported several cases of elephants attacking humans in recent years. Elephants become more aggressive when their territory shrinks.

In January, 10 elephants charged villagers in Ha Tinh province, without causing injuries. In July 2008, a herd of 40 elephants destroyed several houses in the central highland province of Dak Lak, again without causing injuries.

In August 2007, forest warden Le Quang Kim was left paralyzed after his neck was broken in an elephant attack.

Scientists at the workshop said if elephants' territory can be protected from human encroachment and poachers, their numbers would likely recover through natural increase.