Xinhua News Agency, Kunming, May 28 (Reporter Zhao Peiran) A group of wild Asian elephants that originally inhabited Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, recently moved all the way north, passing through Mojiang County of Pu'er City, Yuanjiang County of Yuxi City, and Shiping County of Honghe Prefecture before arriving in Eshan County, Yuxi City , Still staying in Eshan County for food on the 28th.

At present, the group of 15 wild elephants is less than 50 kilometers away from Jinning District of Kunming City, and only about 100 kilometers away from Kunming City.

  Kunming, Yunnan, will host the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in October this year.

As the national first-level key protected wildlife and flagship species of biodiversity, the Asian elephant has rarely moved all the way north, arousing widespread concern in the society.

At present, this group of northern elephants has not caused any casualties.

Relevant departments and localities have taken measures to prevent public safety hazards caused by the northward migration of elephants.

  According to the Yunnan Forestry and Grass Bureau, on April 16, 17 Asian elephants that originally lived in the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve migrated from Mojiang County, Pu'er City to Yuanjiang County, Yuxi City.

On April 24, two of the elephants returned to Mojiang County, Pu'er City, and the other 15 elephants continued to move north, passing through Shiping County, Honghe Prefecture, and recently entered Eshan County, Yuxi City.

On the evening of May 27, the elephant group entered Eshan County to wander.

On the afternoon of the 28th, the reporter saw the elephant group moving in the mountains and forests near Efeng Mountain to the north of the county seat.

  Relevant experts analyzed and judged that from the location of the elephant herd and the characteristics of its recent activities, the elephant herd has a tendency to continue to migrate northward and eastward, and that safety precautions along the northward migration of Asian elephants should be continued.

  Asian elephants in my country are mainly distributed in the three prefectures of Xishuangbanna, Pu'er and Lincang in Yunnan, with a population of only about 300.

Asian elephants are the largest surviving terrestrial wild animals in Asia, but they are highly aggressive.

Experts urge the people in relevant areas to follow instructions, timely grasp monitoring and early warning information, reasonably arrange work and travel time, avoid direct contact with Asian elephants, and prohibit spectators and teases to ensure the safety of elephants.