Elephant Festival celebrated in northern Laos

STORY: Elephant Festival celebrated in northern Laos SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 18, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 20, 2024 LENGTH: 0:02:00 LOCATION: Vientiane CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Elephant Festival STORYLINE: The annual Elephant Festival was held in northern Lao province of Xayaboury, marking a colorful start to the province's Visit Laos Year 2024 program. The popular annual festival, which saw Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith taking part in the opening ceremony on Saturday, featured a range of events, including a parade of elephants, with some of the animals performing circus acts and competing in a fun painting competition, Lao national TV reported on Monday. The festival was held from Feb. 12 to Feb. 18, aiming at raising awareness of elephant conservation and promoting local tourism and economic development. Speaking at the opening ceremony, deputy governor of Xayaboury province Phetphixay Sounvilay, said that the festival was intended to spotlight the continuing need to preserve