Vietnam’s legendary mahout Ama Kông dies Vietnam’s legendary mahout Ama Kông. Photo: Archive photo by Tuoi Tre Ama Kông, who spent his whole life hunting and taming a total of 298 wild elephants, died at 104 years old (or 96 years old) on November 3 in central Vietnam. His descendants and villagers have rushed to his 100-year-old house in Dak Lak central highlands province to mourn and grieve over his death. His family has announced to hold his funeral ceremony in four days in accordance with local customs and practices at his house in Don Village in Krong Na commune. During that time, the family will not receive tourists. Ama Kông, whose Vietnamese real name is Y Prong Eban and Laotian name Kham Proong, was born in 1909 in a M-Nong family as his family members say or in 1917 as shown by his identity card in Don Village which is well known as the native land of elephant hunters and trainers throughout Southeast Asia. Ama means farther in local language so the name Ama Kông means the father of Kông, his first child. Ama Kông used to be awarded by president Ho Chi Minh with first-class Resistance War Medal for helping soldiers transport goods and weapons using tamed elephants. Ama Kông hunted wild elephants for the last time in 1996 when the Vietnamese government banned wild elephant hunting. The legendary wild elephant hunter is also well-known for making a special wine named after him which allegedly helps improve sex lives for drinkers. Photo caption: Ama Kông’s family members announce his death. Photo: Tuoi Tre Legendary mahout Ama Kông pictured in 2008. Photo: Tuoi Tre Tuoi Tre News