HANOI, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam is for the first time implanting microchips in captive elephants to better manage their herds, habitat, health and growth, the Elephant Conservation Center in central highlands Dak Lak province said on Wednesday.

Dak Lak is home to 45 elephants in captivity that belong to different organizations and individuals. A rice grain-sized microchip containing code, biographical information, health status and medicine use is placed under their left shoulder.

The center has recommended microchips be implanted in wild elephants, but the proposal needs approval of both Vietnamese and Cambodian governments, because wild elephants often crossed borders between the two neighboring countries, said the center's director Huynh Trung Luan.