BEIJING — One member of a gaggle of elephants that left a nature reserve and wandered near cities in China’s southwest has been tranquilized and returned to the reserve after leaving the herd.
The elephants attracted nationwide consideration after they left the reserve in Yunnan province final 12 months and walked greater than 300 miles north. They reached the outskirts of Kunming, a significant metropolis, earlier than turning south once more, however nonetheless are removed from the reserve.
A lone male elephant that left the herd greater than a month in the past was captured Wednesday close to town of Yuxi and despatched again to the Xishuangbanna Nationwide Nature Reserve, about 280 kilometers (175 miles) away, in accordance with the federal government.
The ten-year-old, 1.8-ton elephant had stayed close to populated areas since Monday, prompting the choice to ship it again to the reserve to scale back the danger to the general public.
The elephant was tranquilized with a blow dart, put in a cage and brought residence by truck, the federal government newspaper China Day by day reported. It appeared wholesome and had no accidents, the Yunnan authorities mentioned in a social media submit.
“As an Asian elephant that’s solely 10 years outdated, it is going to encounter unpredictable difficulties for survival,” mentioned Chen Mingyong, an elephant professional at Yunnan College, in a authorities assertion.
The herd was 16 elephants when it left the reserve. Two returned on their very own and a child was born throughout the stroll.
Authorities say the remaining group of six feminine and three male adults, two juveniles and three calves seem like wholesome.
Greater than 200 folks with 20 drones and dozens of autos are monitoring the elephants.
Authorities have closed roads to permit them to cross and informed residents to remain indoors in the event that they stroll by villages. Tons of meals has been used to lure them away from populated areas.
State TV carries updates on the elephants a number of occasions a day and they’re amongst standard matters on social media.
The subject “#Lone elephant was captured and returned residence#” on the Sina Weibo microblog service was considered greater than 15.8 million occasions on Wednesday and Thursday. A compilation of video clips posted on-line by the Communist Social gathering newspaper Folks’s Day by day was reposted 1,200 occasions.
The elephants have broken crops however no accidents have been reported.
As of June 28, residents reported losses of 6 million yuan ($950,000), in accordance with the Yunnan Workplace of the China Banking and Insurance coverage Regulatory Fee.
