The Asian elephant is the largest land animal in China. Smaller than African elephants, they can be found only in the Yunnan province where there are 11 nature reserves in which Asian elephants can safely and freely roam. The Asian elephant is listed as an endangered animal with around 300 individuals living in China. For many years Asian elephants were hunted for tusks, hides, and meat. They are now a protected species, but habitat loss due to increased human populations has become the biggest threat to elephant conservation. In China, the reserves found in Xishuangbannam Simao, and Lincang cover an area of around 200,000 square miles.

Reserve managers have worked to improve the lands the elephants call home by planting plenty of vegetation for them to graze among, and setting up designated feeding and water stations. Despite ample food and water sources, a herd of elephants wandered out of its home in Xishuangbanna in April of 2021. As soon as officials noticed that the herd had crossed the reserve’s borders, they began tracking the elephants with a fleet of drones. Images captured from the drone showed that the herd originally started with 16 animals, 2 of which turned around and returned to the reserve. Shortly thereafter, the drones confirmed that a calf was born. Drone images now show that the herd is made up of six females and three male adults, three juveniles, and three calves.

Authorities have no idea why the elephants left the reserve, but the drones have continued to track them. So far, the elephant herd has traveled more than 300 miles from the mountainous reserve land, heading towards populated areas. The drone footage shows the elephants roaming through farmlands, small villages, across paved roads, and into urban environments. Based on the drone footage, the elephants appear to be happy and healthy, undisturbed by the new surroundings. People, on the other hand, are not so happy.

An adult male Asian elephant can weigh up to 13,500lbs and consume more than 300 lbs of food in a single day. As elephants roam, they knock down and eat vegetation in their path. The wandering herd of 15 Asian elephants has caused more than 412 reported incidents of damage, costing upwards of $1.1 million. No injuries have been reported, but the elephants enjoyed a 6 hour tour in the city streets of Eshan. At one point, an elephant peeked into the window of a nursing home sending the man who lived in the room to hide under his bed. Residents had been advised to stay indoors. Authorities also announced that it is forbidden to engage with the animals.

On Wednesday, June 2, 2021, drones tracked the elephant herd moving from Yuxi into the Jinning district. This placed the herd only a few miles from Kunming, the capital of the Yunnan Province and home to more than 7 million people. If the herd were to venture into the crowded city, chaos could ensue. Hundreds of vehicles have been placed along roadways to create a barrier, encouraging the elephants to avoid entering populated areas.

But, the elephants seem determined to enjoy their adventure. Drone footage shows them sticking close together, curiously inspecting the environment, and even helping calves cross water trenches. Asian elephant expert Chen Mingyong from Xinhua suspects that the herd has been following a novice leader that led the group astray. The leader simply doesn’t know how to reroute to a safer environment. Chen went on to say that this is the longest distance migration of a herd of wild elephants recorded in China. There is no word yet if the government will intervene to relocate the herd, only that they will continue to monitor progression with drones.