China's Wandering Herd Of Elephants More Active, Starts Activities Earlier In The Day

Authorities say China's herd of wandering elephants is increasing its daily movement as it stays in a specific area of southwest China's Yunnan Province, with its activities now beginning earlier in the day.

According to the headquarters in charge of monitoring their migration, the herd is currently wandering within Shijie Township in the city of Yuxi and traveled 7.4 kilometers (4.5 miles) southwest between 6 p.m. Wednesday and 6 p.m. Thursday.

A male elephant that wandered 12 days ago is now 18.8 kilometers (11.7 miles) away from the herd. All 15 elephants are healthy.

The headquarters is working to develop a regular system for guaranteeing the herd's and people's safety, as well as to coordinate the allocation of appropriate designated money.

The herd traveled 500 kilometers (300 miles) from their forest home in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture to Kunming, the provincial capital, late June 2.

For more than a month, officials have dispatched police to accompany the herd, cleared highways to ease their passage, and utilized food to distract them from entering highly inhabited areas.

Asian elephants are primarily found in Yunnan and are protected by the Chinese government at the A-level. The province's wild elephant population has increased to over 300, up from 193 in the 1980s, thanks to increased conservation measures.

China has implemented the Forest Law and the Wildlife Protection Law over the years, and Yunnan authorities have created laws and guidelines that provide strong legal support for the creation of nature reserves and the protection of wild species and their habitats.

At present, China has 11 elephant nature reserves.