Jiangcheng Hani and Yi Autonomous County in southwest China's Yunnan Province is a crucial habitat for wild Asian elephants. Over 50 wild elephants set up home there. Beside the Manlao River, the low-lying valley is home to a young elephant with a noticeable feature. Due to a paw loss, it is nicknamed Broken Foot. For a species that spend much time trudging between different turfs, this is a catastrophic disadvantage. 

However, Broken Foot is never regarded by its family members as an annoying nuisance. Traveling through the vegetation of the rugged terrain, the elder elephants keep changing their formations to keep Broken Foot in the middle during the journey. Watch the second episode of our Asian Elephant Sanctuary series, Family Matters, to find out!

About 'Journeys in Nature': Asian Elephant Sanctuary Series

In 2021, 16 Asian elephants left their habitat and embarked on a journey northward. Their unusual trip puzzled millions of viewers on the internet. Eventually, after a 17-month odyssey, the herd returned to their home. To find out what sparked this magnificent trek and get closer to this fascinating species, CGTN Nature traveled to Yunnan Province and discovered some interesting stories about these big guys. Stay tuned for the new series: Asian Elephant Sanctuary!

For more: 

Asian Elephant Sanctuary Episode 1: Tracks in the rainforest

(Cover image is a video screenshot; video shot by the CGTN Nature film crew)

(If you have specific expertise and want to contribute, or if you have a topic of interest that you'd like to share with us, please email us at nature@cgtn.com.)