Department of Forestry Successfully Completes the National Elephant Information Management System (NEIMS) and Elephant Identification Card Programme to Strengthen CITES Implementation in Lao PDR
Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR — The Department of Forestry (DOF), Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), has successfully completed the implementation of the National Elephant Information Management System (NEIMS) and the issuance of Elephant Identification Cards, representing a significant milestone in strengthening the management, traceability and conservation of domesticated Asian elephants in Lao PDR in accordance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Between February and June 2026, the Department of Forestry, in collaboration with the Department of Livestock and Fisheries, provincial and local authorities, and with technical support from Save Elephant Foundation (Thailand), developed and operationalized the National Elephant Information Management System (NEIMS). During the implementation period, field teams conducted nationwide registration of domesticated elephants, replaced existing microchips with ISO-compliant microchips, established comprehensive electronic records, and issued official Elephant Identification Cards.
Through this programme, more than 100 domesticated elephants were registered and incorporated into the national database. Each elephant was individually identified through ISO-standard microchipping, linked to a unique electronic profile within NEIMS, and issued an official identification card. The database records key information, including the elephant’s identity, ownership or legal possession, place of keeping, biological characteristics, health records, and movement history.
The establishment of NEIMS provides Lao PDR with a modern national information management system for domesticated elephants, enabling government authorities to systematically register, maintain, verify and monitor elephant records throughout their lifetime. The system strengthens the ability of the Department of Forestry to verify the legal origin of elephants, monitor transfers and ownership, maintain accurate national inventories, and improve traceability consistent with international best practices and CITES implementation.
The Elephant Identification Card Programme further strengthens national wildlife governance by providing a standardized identification mechanism for each registered elephant. Combined with ISO-standard microchips and the centralized NEIMS database, the system significantly reduces the risk of wild elephants being falsely represented as domesticated elephants, enhances law enforcement capacity to detect illegal activities, and supports legal acquisition verification and traceability in accordance with CITES requirements.
The implementation of NEIMS also contributes to improving the long-term conservation and welfare of domesticated elephants by providing reliable information for veterinary care, population management, disease monitoring, breeding management and evidence-based policy development. The system establishes an important foundation for future conservation programmes and supports the Government of Lao PDR’s efforts to ensure that elephant management is transparent, scientifically based and fully accountable.
The Department of Forestry expressed its appreciation to the Department of Livestock and Fisheries, provincial authorities, local communities, elephant owners and Save Elephant Foundation for their valuable technical cooperation and continued support throughout the implementation of the programme.
The successful completion of the National Elephant Information Management System and Elephant Identification Card Programme represents another important achievement in Lao PDR’s ongoing implementation of its CITES obligations, reinforcing the country’s commitment to strengthening wildlife governance, combating illegal wildlife trade, and ensuring the sustainable conservation and management of Asian elephants for future generations.
