China's famous herd of wandering elephants has recently increased in population with a notable rise in the number of baby elephants, according to the Pu'er Forest Fire Brigade of Yunnan Province.
In video footage taken by firefighters on a recent patrol near the Guanping station in the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve, a large group of wild Asian elephants can be seen moving through the forest. They sometimes form a long line along a creek while, at other times, they can be seen foraging, with adults helping the youngsters find their feet.
The baby elephants were also frequently observed snuggling close to their mothers or nursing.
"There were 16 elephants in 2021. Now, they live with other herds, making a total of 28 elephants. We recently observed seven baby elephants," said Hong Guanghua, a firefighter with the Xishuangbanna detachment of the Yunnan Forest Fire Brigade.
The herd gained global attention four years ago when they traveled north from the Xishuangbanna tropical rainforest to the outskirts of Kunming, Yunnan's capital, before returning to their traditional habitat in the southern parts of the province with human assistance.
Asian elephants receive first class protection in China and their population in the country has doubled from about 150 in the 1980s to more than 300 today, thanks to the country's increased conservation efforts.
China's famous wandering elephant herd grows larger
