In August 2024, an injured male wild elephant calf was found in Daduogang Township, Jinghong, Yunnan Province. The calf had visible scars on its right hind leg and was limping.

Rescue teams provided immediate care, including glucose, milk powder, and wound treatment. Attempts to reunite the calf with its herd were unsuccessful, leading to its transfer to the Xishuangbanna Asian Elephant Rescue and Breeding Center.

At the center, the calf has shown significant improvement. Its height has increased from 90 to 130 centimeters, and its weight has risen from about 100 to over 300 kilograms.

Caretakers conduct daily health monitoring, feeding, and wild training to maintain its survival skills. The center plans to hold an online poll to name the calf.

The Xishuangbanna center, established in 2009, focuses on the rescue, rehabilitation, and breeding of Asian elephants, a species under first-class national protection in China.

It has successfully rehabilitated 25 wild Asian elephants. Over the past 30 years, Yunnan’s wild Asian elephant population has grown from around 150 to approximately 300, reflecting effective conservation efforts.

In 2021, a herd of 15 wild Asian elephants traveled north from their traditional habitats through several regions, including Pu’er and Kunming. Monitored by the Yunnan Forest Fire Brigade, the herd returned safely to their habitat.

Experts emphasize the need for a national park to provide adequate space for Asian elephants, addressing conflicts between conservation and development.

Shi Kun, director of the Wildlife Research Institute of Beijing Forestry University, noted that while the elephant population is recovering, their habitats are fragmented and overlap with human areas, highlighting the importance of improved protection mechanisms.

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