Journey of the Famous Herd: Wild Elephants Turn Heads in Yunnan

A famous herd of wild Asian elephants in China has paused for a much-needed rest after an extraordinary 300-mile journey from a nature reserve.

The 15 elephants began their trek on April 16, leaving the Xishuangbanna Dai nature reserve and heading towards Kunming in Yunnan province.

Now, the elephants are near Xinyang Township, roughly 55 miles southwest of Kunming, where they were recently seen resting in a forest, exhausted, with their legs and trunks sprawled out.

Some elephants were observed sleeping in a pyramid shape, with a baby elephant clinging to an adult’s leg while another rested its trunk on a fellow elephant.

The herd has come within two miles of Kunming’s southernmost suburbs, raising concerns that they might enter the city and cause disruptions.

To keep the elephants out of Kunming’s Jinning district, authorities have barricaded roads with trucks and scattered 18 tons of pineapples and corn.

Despite these efforts, the elephants have caused chaos, wandering urban roads, poking their trunks through residential windows, and raiding farms for food and water.

They even visited a car dealership and a retirement home, where an elderly man hid under his bed from the curious animals. The damage from these activities is estimated at 6.8 million yuan ($1.1 million).

Wildlife officers are cautious about using tranquilizers, especially on infant elephants, as these animals enjoy protected status in China. This status ensures that the herd will not face destruction despite the chaos they’ve caused.

The elephants’ journey has captivated the nation, with their escapades being closely monitored by over a dozen drones and security cameras. Footage shows them roaming streets, breaking into barns, and consuming crops.

The herd’s actions have sparked widespread discussion on social media, emphasizing the protection and thriving population of elephants in China despite shrinking natural habitats.

Authorities employ passive methods to guide the elephants away from urban areas, using trucks to block roads and food drops to lure them.

As of Tuesday, the herd remained on Kunming’s outskirts, with one male wandering off alone, adding to the concerns of those monitoring them.

A provincial command center has been set up to track the elephants, with over 410 emergency response personnel, numerous vehicles, and 14 drones deployed.

Residents in the area have been evacuated, temporary traffic controls have been implemented, and two tons of elephant food have been placed to keep the herd away from populated areas.

Experts are unsure why the elephants embarked on this migration, the longest recorded in China. They suggest the herd might have been led astray by an inexperienced leader.

Initially, the group had 16 elephants, but two turned back, and a calf was born during the journey, bringing the total to 15.

The herd now consists of six adult females, three adult males, three juveniles, and three calves.

Authorities have advised residents to avoid contact with the elephants as they continue their journey, with efforts ongoing to prevent them from entering Kunming.