Focus on Arts and Ecology

 The big environmental stories in the Chinese media (28 May-3 June)

As the country watches in disbelief, a herd of 15 elephants has made a 500-kilometre journey from China’s southernmost tropical forests across Yunnan province, and is now approaching the capital of Kunming.
 
The mysterious march to Kunming, which will play host to UN biodiversity talks (COP15) later this year, started more than a month ago and shows no sign of stopping. The authorities have dispatched hundreds of people to track the elephants’ movements, blocked roads, and prepared food to lure them away from populated areas. However, the animals have from time to time wandered onto farmland and into villages. Local authorities estimated damages at over US$1 million which they promised to pay back to villagers. 

The herd comes from Xishuangbana, the primary habitat for wild elephants in China. It's estimated that about 300 remain in the country. Elephant encounters can be dangerous. More than 30 people have died in Xishuangbanna since 1991. On Wednesday evening, the Kunming government alerted residents to avoid contact with the elephants. 

According to Zhang Li, a leading conservation biologist, habitat loss is the biggest reason behind human–elephant conflicts. His study shows elephant habitats have shrunk 40% over the past two decades due to deforestation. “Most of them were turned to tea and rubber plantations, even within the forest reserve,” he said in a webcast. 

Lu Zhi, biological professor at Peking University, called on the government to restore tea and rubber plantations to suitable forests for wild elephants. “It’s the price we all need to pay for preserving nature,” she said.

(Sources: China Dialogue)