In a heartwarming display of nature's grandeur, a group of wild Asian elephants was recently spotted roaming the cornfields and swimming in the rivers of Pu'er City, located in southwest China's Yunnan Province.
The herd made their presence known one late afternoon in March, emerging gracefully from the dense forests and descending the mountainside to the expansive cornfields. These majestic creatures follow a daily routine, typically foraging between 3 and 4 p.m. before cooling off with a refreshing dip in nearby rivers during the hot weather.
\"Elephants have their daily routine. They usually forage around 3 or 4 p.m., and they will bathe in rivers in hot weather. Also, they don't go back to the forest at night until the next morning,\" explained Ma Wenhong, an Asian Elephant monitor at Jiangcheng County, Pu'er City.
After satisfying their hunger with the growing corn cobs, the elephants made their way towards the river, highlighting their natural behavior and adaptability to the region's environment.
The Asian elephant, the largest living land animal in Asia, is known for its impressive longevity, with female elephants having the longest pregnancy among mammals, lasting between 18 to 22 months. This extended gestation period contributes to a low birth rate, making conservation efforts crucial.
In Pu'er City alone, nine baby elephants have been born since 2023, a promising sign for the species' recovery. Across China, Asian elephants are primarily found in Pu'er City, the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, and around Lincang City in Yunnan, with the population stabilizing at approximately 360 individuals. These gentle giants are classified as national first-class protected animals, ensuring that their habitats are preserved and protected from threats.
The recent sightings in Pu'er City not only shed light on the daily lives of these incredible animals but also underscore the importance of ongoing conservation efforts in maintaining and increasing their populations.
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Asian elephants spotted feeding at cornfield, swimming in SW China
cgtn.com
