Daung Chaung Elephant Camp in Gwa Township Relocates as AA Offensive Approaches

Lu Htet Naing, Narinjara News, 16 October 2024

The Daung Chaung Elephant Camp, which was situated between Gwa Town in Arakan State and Ngathainggyaung Township in the Ayeyarwady Region, has been moved in recent days as the Arakan Army (AA) attack progressively moves closer to Gwa Town.

"Yesterday, I witnessed them traveling with the elephants across the highlands," a witness from Daung Chaung stated. They have been on the move for almost three days. They moved out of fear when the AA offensive approached Gwa Town. They reportedly relocated to the Ayeyarwady Region's Thabaung Township. The mahouts and staff escorted the elephants, with some of them even walking on foot, while the families of the workers were driven around. The elephant camp is located approximately five miles from Daung Chaung, and they are traveling to Ayeyarwady through the forest."

The Daung Chaung Elephant Camp, located 7 miles from Gwa at the entrance to Gwa Town from Ngathainggyaung in the Ayeyarwady Region, is home to 40 elephants and more than 200 people, according to locals.

According to a neighbor living close to the elephant camp on October 14, 15, and 16, when combat in Gwa Township grew more intense and the AA onslaught got closer to Gwa Town, the elephant camp in Daung Chaung village, as well as the elephants and workers at the logging site, were moved.

"Timber elephants make up the minority of the elephants being transferred right now. Similar to Chaung Thar's elephant camp, these are utilized for rides. The Shwe Yati project was used to put this into practice. Before the AA took over Thandwe, the elephants in Daung Chaung were relocated from an elephant camp close to Sar Ni Taung. Now they are returning to Ayeyarwady as the AA closes in on Gwa. The resident gave the explanation that they had moved to the former Mayan Cho Thit timber production location in Thabaung Township.

The elephants from the Daung Chaung village elephant camp were relocated to the old Mayan Cho timber production site in Thabaung Township, Ayeyarwady Region, according to a local female merchant in Thabaung who was familiar with the elephant camp.

"They will keep fighting for the livelihoods of elephants and those who have to move to new places'. There needs to be reconstruction in the areas designated for the elephants at the Mayan Cho timber production site. The staff members' livelihoods can also become challenging," she warned.

Fighting is slowly moving into Gwa Town from Gwa Township, which is in Arakan State's southernmost region. As of right now, the AA offensive has advanced 25 miles south of Gwa Town. 

On September 5, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., the AA took control of Maung Shwe Lay, the last naval facility belonging to the junta, in Thandwe Town. After this triumph, in the third week of September, the AA launched another onslaught into Gwa Township and took control of the strategically significant Kyeintali Town, which is located between Thandwe Town and Gwa Town.

The junta forces were forced to retreat from village  to village, including Kyauk Pa Sat, Sar Chet, Kaing Khon, Gant Gaw Taung, Ba Win, Ku Lar Pyin (Yadanar Myaing), Bel Inn, Del Bote, and Ku Toet Lay, while the AA resumed its onslaught after seizing control of Kyeintali Town. Fighting is still going on in Kyway since the junta was unable to halt the AA's advance despite resistance from joint army, naval, and air force forces. (Photo: Courtesy)