Chinese elephants head home after romp through Yunnan
For months, a herd of elephants marched through the southern Chinese province of Yunnan. Now the pachyderms are returning home.
A snack on the road
Originally based in the Xishuangbanna protected reserve in Yunnan province, a herd of elephants set off north sometime in March 2020. Why they began their journey is still unknown to humans, but their long strange trip is coming to an end — the elephants are returning home.
Endangered but protected
Asian elephants are on the Red List of endangered species, and in China they enjoy special state protection. Therefore, regional authorities have done everything necessary to both protect people from the herd and to support the animals as best as possible during their migration.
On high alert
Drones monitored the herd's activities, and heavy equipment blocked their access to villages to protect the elephants and to permit authorities to evacuate them quickly if necessary. At times, 200 vehicles accompanied the animals. Residents and tourists could also watch the elephants from the cable car.
Feeding an elephant
Feeding sessions were also part of the emergency plan, and these were enthusiastically accepted by residents and tourists alike — when do you ever get a chance like this? Wild Asian elephants are rare, with only 300 left in the whole of China.
Well-deserved nap
The migration of the herd is the longest ever observed in China. The elephants have covered hundreds of kilometers — stopping, of course, to rest on the way.
Rare habitat
In addition to bringing joy to many people, the elephants invaded houses and trampled fields. The damage is estimated at about $1 million (€850,000). The elephants rarely found suitable habitat on their journey, and perhaps that is why they turned back — there is no place like home.