The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is classified by the IUCN as Endangered (EN) on the Red List. It is the largest land mammal in Asia, reaching heights of 2–4 meters and weighing between 2,000–5,500 kg.

Elephants live in matriarchal herds led by the oldest female, where knowledge of water sources and migration routes is passed down through generations. With a lifespan of 60–70 years and a gestation period of nearly 22 months resulting in a single calf, elephant populations recover very slowly when they decline.

As herbivores consuming 150–200 kg of vegetation daily, elephants are constantly on the move over large ranges, acting as "ecosystem engineers": they disperse seeds over long distances and clear paths through dense forests, creating conditions for many other species to survive. The loss of elephants means the loss of a vital forest maintenance mechanism.

In Vietnam, Asian elephants are facing three primary threats: habitat loss and fragmentation due to agricultural and infrastructure expansion, which isolates elephant herds and prevents genetic exchange; human-elephant conflict when elephants are forced into farmland to find food; and illegal poaching for ivory and skin.

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