Cambodia Officials announced that they are banning elephant rides in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap Province.
Millions of tourists are visiting Siem Reap Province every year. They are wanted to explore the archaeological of Angkor Wat complex which was built between the 9th and 15th centuries.
Angkor Wat Temple is the UNESCO World Heritage site with spans of 400 square kilometers. So visitors looking for a better transportation than trying walk around this huge place. Transportations include rental motor, rental bicycle, Khmer Tuk Tuk, Taxi tour and the famous elephant ride are available in Siem Reap Province. Many tourists decide to go with elephant ride because elephants are also taught to perform for tourists.
However, the park has been criticised in the past because many of the elephants being used are old or unhealthy. Long Kosal, a spokesperson with the Apsara Authority which manages the park, admitted that some of the elephants were ‘already old’.
At last, they’re finally making moves to rectify their mistakes. They will move elephants from the park to a community forest about 25 miles (40 kilometres), and also keep continue to look after them.