![Mahouts race their elephants during the Buon Don elephant festival in Vietnam\'s central highlands of Dak Lak province, March 12, 2019. Locals say the race is a celebration of the much-revered animals -- traditionally thought of as family members in this part of Vietnam -- but conservation groups are calling for an end to the festival, which they say is cruel and outdated. (Photo/Agencies)](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2019/03/13/2f25248ac92a4aa6968f47cbaf4266ab.jpg)
Mahouts race their elephants during the Buon Don elephant festival in Vietnam's central highlands of Dak Lak province, March 12, 2019. Locals say the race is a celebration of the much-revered animals -- traditionally thought of as family members in this part of Vietnam -- but conservation groups are calling for an end to the festival, which they say is cruel and outdated. (Photo/Agencies)
![Mahouts race their elephants during the Buon Don elephant festival in Vietnam\'s central highlands of Dak Lak province, March 12, 2019. Locals say the race is a celebration of the much-revered animals -- traditionally thought of as family members in this part of Vietnam -- but conservation groups are calling for an end to the festival, which they say is cruel and outdated. (Photo/Agencies)](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2019/03/13/64a57865ab6b458ba21c26b4e6f716e7.jpg)
Mahouts race their elephants during the Buon Don elephant festival in Vietnam's central highlands of Dak Lak province, March 12, 2019. Locals say the race is a celebration of the much-revered animals -- traditionally thought of as family members in this part of Vietnam -- but conservation groups are calling for an end to the festival, which they say is cruel and outdated. (Photo/Agencies)
![Mahouts race their elephants during the Buon Don elephant festival in Vietnam\'s central highlands of Dak Lak province, March 12, 2019. Locals say the race is a celebration of the much-revered animals -- traditionally thought of as family members in this part of Vietnam -- but conservation groups are calling for an end to the festival, which they say is cruel and outdated. (Photo/Agencies)](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2019/03/13/469ba0611e2245d1b81eae14a5d1faac.jpg)
Mahouts race their elephants during the Buon Don elephant festival in Vietnam's central highlands of Dak Lak province, March 12, 2019. Locals say the race is a celebration of the much-revered animals -- traditionally thought of as family members in this part of Vietnam -- but conservation groups are calling for an end to the festival, which they say is cruel and outdated. (Photo/Agencies)
![Mahouts race their elephants during the Buon Don elephant festival in Vietnam\'s central highlands of Dak Lak province, March 12, 2019. Locals say the race is a celebration of the much-revered animals -- traditionally thought of as family members in this part of Vietnam -- but conservation groups are calling for an end to the festival, which they say is cruel and outdated. (Photo/Agencies)](http://www.ecns.cn/hd/2019/03/13/c053f77e33c14cd19d7175bd29311cc5.jpg)
Mahouts race their elephants during the Buon Don elephant festival in Vietnam's central highlands of Dak Lak province, March 12, 2019. Locals say the race is a celebration of the much-revered animals -- traditionally thought of as family members in this part of Vietnam -- but conservation groups are calling for an end to the festival, which they say is cruel and outdated. (Photo/Agencies)