Deep in the rainforests of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, dedicated monitoring teams are playing a vital role in protecting wild Asian elephants while fostering peaceful coexistence with local communities. In Jiangcheng County, where more than 50 elephants roam year-round, winter food shortages often draw herds closer to villages, increasing the need for vigilant monitoring.

Working alongside forest firefighters, monitors use real-time tracking, drones and early-warning alerts to keep residents informed, especially during the Spring Festival peak travel period. Team leader Diao Faxing oversees elephant movements across nearly 1,000 square kilometres, ensuring people can work safely while minimising disturbance to wildlife.

Yunnan’s government-funded wildlife insurance system further supports coexistence, compensating villagers for crop and property losses. As one resident put it, “If our crops get eaten, the insurance company compensates us. I think that’s what harmonious coexistence… looks like.”

These grassroots efforts align with plans for an Asian Elephant National Park, backed by China’s new national park law, aiming to restore habitats, raise awareness and secure a sustainable future where people and elephants can live in harmony.

Source: China Central Television