Published : 2021-05-31
Recently, a group of 15 wild Asian elephants has become an internet sensation in the Mainland.
They began their journey 'northwards' from Xishuangbanna and traveled over 400 kilometres, strolling into farmlands to forage during the day and stepping onto city streets at night.
This seemingly fun and leisurely journey could be nerve-racking for locals. Fortunately, Yunnan has increasingly improved protection efforts for Asian elephants in recent years.
There have been no casualties in any human-elephant encounters thanks to the efforts of these elephant protectors.
Wild elephants in Yunnan enter cities, causing public concern
In the mid-20th century, the Asian elephant was suspected to be extinct. In recent years, with improving ecological conditions, humans and wild Asian elephants in Yunnan province have begun to have "close encounters".
Since 2010, a total of 6,674 incidents caused by wild Asian elephants have occurred in Xishuangbanna, damaging 22,000 mu of farmland. Human casualties have also occurred occasionally, and some locals even panic at the mention of elephants.
The escalating conflict between humans and elephants has not only affected humans. The Asian elephant is the largest land vertebrate in Asia and is currently distributed in regions such as Xishuangbanna, Puer, and Lincang in Yunnan, with less than 300 individuals remaining.
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Using high-tech means to protect wild elephants in Yunnan
So, in 2018, the Asian Elephant Monitoring and Early Warning Centre was established in Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture.
More than 300 infrared cameras have been set up across the Xishuangbanna region, with over 200 stationed around the protected area, serving as pairs of eyes closely watching the passages frequently travelled by Asian elephants.
"The current warning is about 58 kilometres away from your location!" According to the Asian Elephant Early Warning System App, two minutes ago, 31 Asian elephants were detected in Liushun Town, Puer City.
The warning prompts residents of 14 villages within the elephants' activity range to "be vigilant against elephants entering the village and surrounding roads at night and in the early morning".
At present, the app has more than 200,000 users and serves as a smart barrier for the safety of local residents.
While technology is helping people avoid direct encounters with wild elephants, the local government is compensating for the economic losses caused by the elephants.
The herd that migrated northward, strolling through streets and fields, caused "accidents" 412 times in just 40 days, destroying over 800 mu of crops.
The estimated economic loss is nearly 6.8 million Yuan, a cost clearly to be borne by the government and insurance companies.
This policy of "government footing the bill for elephant damages" undoubtedly contributes more to animal protection.
Rescuing and breeding represent the last steps in protecting the Asian elephant population.
Since its establishment in 2008, the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Centre has successfully rescued 11 Asian elephants.
The centre's staff, referred to as "Elephant Dads", work around fourteen hours daily, caring for the elephants and hoping to return more rehabilitated elephants to the wild.
The local government, the rescue centre, and even ordinary citizens have collectively become protectors of elephants.
When addressing the conflict between human development and animal conservation, continuous attempts based on scientific research are the only means to foster harmonious coexistence between humans and elephant herds.
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