second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay, Laos,

Elephants parade out from opening ceremonies at the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay, Laos, Friday, Feb. 15, 2008. The event is held to draw attention to the plight of both domestic and wild elephants in Asia. Laos, once know as the land of a million elephants, has seen its numbers dwindle to less than a two thousand domestic and wild elephants combined.

Young Laotians offer sugar cane to elephants as they walk to opening ceremonies at the second annual Elephant Festival in Paklay, Laos, Friday, Feb. 15, 2008. The event is held to draw attention to the plight of both domestic and wild elephants in Asia. Laos, once known as the land of a million elephants, has seen its numbers dwindle to less than two thousand domestic and wild elephants combined.