Elephant camp to be built near popular pagoda in Magwe

A Conservation-based elephant tourism project will be set up near Mann Shwe Set Taw (The Golden Footprints) pagoda in Magwe Region, U Myint Zaw, regional minister of Resources, Environment, Electricity and Energy, said.

The camp, the first of its kind in Magwe, is tentatively set to open by February 13, in conjunction with the Mann Shwe Set Taw pagoda festival, U Myint Zaw said.

“We’re building it with the region’s money after obtaining permission from the Myanmar government. We hope to have it running in time for the festival,” he said.

Mann Creek will run through part of the elephant camp, which is being built near Thanpayar Gai village on the road to the pagoda.

It will be built on an estimated 48.5 hectares of land, U Myint Sein, head of Magwe’s Hotels and Tourism Department, said.

“We will plant perennial plants and hardwood trees on 24 hectares in the camp, and we will negotiate for 283 hectares of land outside of Padaung-Pyawbwe reserve for use as pasture,” U Myint Sein said.

The government is trying to develop nature-based tourism to boost the area’s economy, said U Myint Zaw.

“If we can offer tourists a unique experience combining culture, nature and elephants, this area could become famous throughout the country,” U Myint Sein said.

Magwe has 204 elephants used in logging, and the government expects good results from the project as activity slows in the industry.

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