China's famous herd of wandering elephants has shown a trend of returning south after their northward trek of some 500 km in southwest China's Yunnan Province, according to Shen Qingzhong, an expert with the group in charge of monitoring the elephants' migration in Yunnan.

The herd entered Dalongtan Township of Eshan County in the city of Yuxi at 9:48 p.m. Thursday. They traveled 13.5 km northwest.

Shen said, despite a preliminary study suggesting a returning trend, the herd's specific routes are still to be determined after further research.

The elephants traveled about 500 km from their forest home in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture before reaching Kunming, the provincial capital, late on June 2.

For over a month, authorities have sent police to escort the herd, evacuated roads to facilitate their passage, and used food to distract them from entering densely populated areas..

Timeline:

March 15, 2020 - Sixteen wild Asian elephants left Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve to Pu'er City and kept heading northward.

December 15, 2020 - One adult elephant dropped out, and two were born in the journey, according to Xinhua. The herd later arrived in Mojiang County on Pu'er City.

April 16, 2021 - The 17 elephants migrated from Mojiang County to Yuanjiang County in Yuxi City.

April 24, 2021 - Two of the elephants returned to Mojiang County after gaining access to alcohol at a villager's home and getting inebriated, while the remaining 15 elephants continued their journey.

May 27, 2021 - The elephants came upon the town of Eshan in Yuxi City and walked the streets for six hours after authorities evacuated pedestrians and vehicles and warned residents to stay indoors.

May 29, 2021 - The elephants were found entering Hongta District in Yuxi City, following a long journey from Xishuangbanna starting from this April. They were around 100 kilometers away from Kunming, and over 400 kilometers away from their original habitat in Xishuangbanna.

May 31, 2021 - The herd arrived at the junction of Luohe Township and Dayingjie Street in Hongta District in Yuxi City. The staff used food to guide the elephants away from the city.

June 1, 2021 - The elephants entered Xinzhai Village in Yuxi City, which is only about 2 or 3 kilometers away from Jinning District. 

June 2, 2021 - At 9:55 p.m., the wild elephants entered Jinning District in Kunming City, according to Xinhua.

June 4, 2021 - By 5:00 p.m., the jumbo club tacked 6.6 kilometers southwest instead of heading north.

June 6, 2021 - By 4:50 p.m., the elephants moved 5.5 kilometers west of their previous location in thunderstorm, and an adult male elephant left the group and moved away for 1.5 kilometers.

June 7, 2021 - By 4:50 p.m., the elephants made a halt to get some rest.

June 8, 2021 - By 6:30 p.m. the male elephant stayed in the forests of Anning, a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Kunming.

                      - By 11:15 p.m. the herd of 14 elephants left Kunming City and entered Yimen County in Yuxi City.              

June 9, 2021 - The herd wandered in a small town of Yimen County in Yuxi City while the stray male elephant stayed in the forests some 12 kilometers away from the group.

June 11, 2021 - By 11:33 p.m., the herd had headed 8.12 kilometers further southwest in Shijie Township in Yuxi City while the stray male elephant left Anning City at 5:40 p.m., moved 6.15 kilometers to the south, and entered Jinning District, 14.3 kilometers away from the herd.

June 15, 2021 - By 12:25 a.m., the herd has been weaving around a small area of Shijie Township in Yuxi City.

June 16, 2021 - The elephants continued to linger in the Shijie Township in the city of Yuxi.

June 17, 2021 - The herd entered Dalongtan Township of Eshan County in the city of Yuxi at 9:48 p.m. According to the herd monitoring group, elephants traveled 13.5 km northwest.

What prompted these endangered animals leave their habitat and march north is still a mystery. According to the Yunnan Forestry and Grassland Bureau, with more environmental protection measures taken, the forest canopy density and coverage rate have increased significantly in Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve. Inedible woody plants have gradually taken the place of undergrowth vegetation, such as plantains, one of their favorite foods. Some researchers suspect that the reduction of plants to feed on is one reason that forced the herd to move out of their protected areas.

Asian elephants are under first-class national protection in China and are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. The population of wild Asian elephants has been increasing in China. There were only 193 wild Asian elephants in the 1980s.

The unusual movement of these wild elephants has gained international attention. On June 2, TV Asahi reported the ongoing voyage, analyzing the possible reasons behind the migration.

For more:

A special interview with an Asian elephant in the migrating herd

Wild elephant herd less than 20 km from Jinning District, Kunming

Herd of 15 Yunnan elephants continue migration, leave experts puzzled

Wild Asian elephants migrate northward in SW China

(All images via VCG. Video and updated information provided by Forest Fire Brigade of Yunnan Province.)

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