According to Xinhua, authorities in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan have evacuated more than 150,000 people since April this year because of herd-migrating wild elephants.
A herd of 15 Asian elephants began migrating from the Mojan-Han Autonomous Region in April 2021. Their path ran in close proximity to the villages of the province. Since April 16, they have covered more than 1.3 thousand km in various urban areas. The animals approached the settlements, as a result of which the locals were temporarily evacuated.
A herd of Asian elephants migrating through China’s Yunnan Province moved southward through some woodland on July 12-13, prompting evacuations.
Also see: https://t.co/AQ0hzEcul6 pic.twitter.com/oFLH0AW9eJ
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Local authorities have sent about 25,000 police officers to ensure the safety of people. The movement of animals is monitored by the regional headquarters for the observation of wild elephants. They are tracked both from the ground and from the air (using drones).
China elephant herd’s extraordinary 17-month odyssey forces 150,000 people to evacuate from their path https://t.co/sDk4zIT2IT
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Staff left food in the way of the elephants. During 110 days of travel, the animals ate 180 tons of food prepared for them. According to Chief of Staff Wang Yen, neither humans nor animals were injured during the elephant migration. Asian elephants, also known as Indian elephants, are protected at the highest level. Their representatives in China are about 300, they live mainly in the rainforests of Yunnan Province. In addition to China, these elephants also live in South and Southeast Asia.
OLD NEWS
This herd has been lumbering its way across China for more than a year now. The elephants have now strayed almost 500km It’s thought that they started their journey last spring https://t.co/ZXPWZ6mEDt— Real ??? Brave enough to be an Eagle ? (@j_nanma) July 14, 2021