IN Yunnan Province in Southwest China, nearly every elephant herd has welcomed newborns in recent years.

Asian elephants, the continent’s largest land animal, are under top-level protection in China and constitute an important part of Yunnan’s rainforest ecosystem. According to the Yunnan provincial forestry and grassland bureau, the number of Asian elephants in the province had increased from 293 in 2018 to about 360 by 2021.

The baby boom of the giant mammal demonstrates the success of China’s arduous protection efforts and the country’s progress in conserving ecological biodiversity, especially when the population of this species is showing a declining trend globally.

“Strengthened protection and fewer human impacts are important reasons behind the high fertility rate,” said Chen Mingyong, professor at the School of Ecology and Environmental Science of Yunnan University.

During these years, drones meant to track bushfires have been widely used to track elephants, so that local governments and villagers are informed of elephants’ presence. They can also help guide elephants toward safer routes.

Food stores, dubbed “elephant canteens,” have been established across Yunnan, providing the animals with nutritious meals. Farmers are subsidized to cultivate food plants for elephants. They can get compensation if the elephants eat them or harvest the plants if the animals don’t.

“The food stores have both lowered human-elephant encounters and enriched elephants’ food resources,” said Guo Xianming, director of the scientific research institute with the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve in Yunnan.

According to the investigation results provided by Chen, the Asian elephant’s “food menu” has expanded from nearly 100 to 240 types of food, most of which are crops such as corn, rice and sugar cane. They are planted on a large scale and within easy reach of the elephants.

Ever since 2021, the Yunnan Provincial Government has invested a total of 100 million yuan (US$14.83 million) in strengthening monitoring and early warning systems, habitat restoration, and safety precautions to improve the harmonious coexistence of humans and elephants.

In 2010, Yunnan became the first provincial-level region in China to introduce commercial insurance for damage caused by wildlife, which covered the whole province by 2014.

Wang Chuan, a villager in Pu’er City, witnessed growth in elephant numbers and indicated that they are now more frequently spotted in his village than before. “Of course it’s annoying to see our crops destroyed by the elephants, but villagers always put up with those naughty animals instead of dispersing them by force,” said Wang.

From 2016 to 2020, some 297 million yuan was paid in the province to cover the losses caused by wildlife, mainly Asian elephants.

Major infrastructure development in the region also intentionally heeded the activities of Asian elephants. In the construction of the China-Laos Railway, routes were redesigned to avoid the habitats of elephants and some parts of the railway were built into bridges and tunnels to provide passage for the migratory giants.

Inspectors play an important role in the detection of the baby boom. Diao Faxing has been working as one of the 10 local inspectors for six years in Jiangcheng Hani and Yi Autonomous County of Pu’er.

“The number of elephants multiplied in recent years,” said Diao. “There are 43 wild elephants in Jiangcheng and four calves were born this year.”

As the frequent visit of elephants in the county requires inspectors to synchronize their daily schedule with elephant movements, they have to get up at 5 a.m. and work till midnight.

Scientific researchers also carry out various studies, including the analysis of the suitability of elephant habitats and conservation of biological diversity, to enhance the protection of Asian elephants.

Bao Mingwei, an elephant doctor at the Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center in Xishuangbanna, and his research team, have successfully bred nine calves by studying the method of human-assisted breeding, which has aided the population increase of Asian elephants in China.

Also on the agenda is the establishment of a national park for Asian elephants. National and local authorities will coordinate efforts in the integration and optimization of the existing habitat range and build a unified protection and management system.

“The national park will be critical for conserving tropical rainforests and conservation of nature and ecology,” said Chen Fei, director of the Asian elephant research center under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.(Xinhua)