The majority of mahouts are children and teenagers or                    old men. Managing and riding an elephant is not seen as                  a skilled profession amongst the Phnong people. More                      able bodied men work in the rice fields and plantations.                    ELIE intends to develop an eco tourism project that will                    enable an environment to be developed where these                      elements can be brought together. Young Mahouts will                    be able to spend time with their elders, and more                              knowledgeable mahouts trained for educating such                          youngsters. The hope is to maintain the elephant related                  traditions of the Phnong while improving a mahouts                          understanding of how to use, manage and care for their                  elephant.

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