Lu Htet Naing, Narinjara News, 16 October 2024

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

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

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

According to a neighbor living close to theelephant camp on October 14, 15, and 16, when combat in Gwa Township grew moreintense and the AA onslaught got closer to Gwa Town, the elephant camp in DaungChaung village, as well as the elephants and workers at the logging site, weremoved.

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

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

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

Fighting is slowly moving into Gwa Town fromGwa 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 tookcontrol of Maung Shwe Lay, the last naval facility belonging to the junta, inThandwe Town. After this triumph, in the third week of September, the AAlaunched another onslaught into Gwa Township and took control of thestrategically significant Kyeintali Town, which is located between Thandwe Townand Gwa Town.

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