Vice President U Myint Swe urged the authorities to step up efforts in advancing eco-tourism and conservation of biodiversity during his visit to Wingabaw Elephant Camp and Moeyungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary in Bago Region

Vice President U Myint Swe called for stepping up efforts for developing eco-tourism and conservation of biodiversity in his visit to Wingabaw Elephant Camp and Moeyungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary in Bago yesterday.
The Vice President first visited the Wingabaw Elephant Camp located 14 miles from Bago and he was welcomed there by Bago Region Chief Minister U Win Thein.
At the briefing hall, Managing Director of the Myanma Timber Enterprise U Saw John Shwe Ba reported on establishing the camp and conservation of elephants and arrival of visitors to the camp.
After hearing the report, Vice President U Myint Swe stressed the need to conserve the elephants in region as part of efforts to ensure that the elephant population does not decline.
He also urged the forest police force and authorities to work together for stepping up efforts for fighting wild elephant poaching.
Following the meeting, Vice President U Myint Swe visited the elephant camp.
Wingabaw Elephant Camp
The Wingabaw Elephant Camp was established in 2016 and is located 14 miles from Bago City. The camp is 86 acres wide and houses adult elephants, orphaned wild elephants and orphaned baby elephants.
Myanma Timber Enterprise suspended timber extraction in Bago Yoma and established elephant camps for public recreation, namely, Wingabaw Elephant Camp in Payagyi, Phokyar Elephant Camp in Toungoo, and Hmawsayargyi Elephant Camp and Myainghaywun Elephant Camp near Mile Post 105 on Yangon-Mandalay Highway.
Visit to Moeyungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary
Vice President U Myint Swe, accompanied by Bago Region Chief Minister U Win Thein, visited the Moeyungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary, which was listed in the Ramsar Convention in 2004, situated about 70 miles north of Yangon by the Yangon-Mandalay highway in Waw Township, Bago Region. Officials concerned conducted the Vice President around the taxidermy birds which are found in the wetland.
The Vice President also visited the habitats of migrant birds being sheltered in the wetland to escape from severe winter in their original areas.
Officials also reported on measures taken for conservation of biodiversity and the wetlands.
Dr. Myo Thet, Managing Director of Shwe Pyi Aye Co., Ltd., reported on eco-tourism in the wildlife sanctuary.
Vice President U Myint Swe called for making systematic arrangement for turning the Moeyungyi Wetland to a model wetland of Myanmar’s wetlands.
He also urged the authorities to conduct vocational training courses and to promote community-based tourism while organizing the local people to participate in conservation of biodiversity in the wetland. Since 1988, the government has designated the 25,600-acre wide Moeyungyi Wetland a wildlife sanctuary, on which about 17 villages rely on for their daily survival. Promoting the tourism industry is one of the government’s priorities to reduce poverty by implementing community-based tourism businesses across the country.

(Global New Light of Myanmar: http://www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com/vice-president-calls-for-advancing-eco-tourism-biodiversity-conservation/ )

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