Aerial photo taken on May 28, 2021 shows a herd of wild Asian elephants in Eshan County, Yuxi City, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Authorities are tracking 15 wild Asian elephants in southwest China's Yunnan Province as the herd migrates northward. The elephants are now wandering in the county of Eshan, following a long journey from the province's southmost prefecture starting from April 16.(Photo: Xinhua)

Authorities in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province vowed to fully prepare to respond in case a herd of 15 wild Asian elephants that had migrated more than 500 kilometers enters the city's urban area.

The herd, including three calves, is currently in the sparsely populated suburban district of Jinning, Kunming, media reported Friday. Jinning is about 50 kilometers from the city center. 

Cheng Lianyuan, the Party chief of Kunming, vowed on Thursday to enhance emergency warning and response and make full preparation in case the herd enters the urban city of Kunming.

A total of 675 emergency workers and police officers, 62 vehicles, and 12 drones have been sent to monitor the elephant herd. Approaches to villages near the herd have been blocked and residents have been evacuated to ensure safety of both the elephants and residents, media reported, citing Yunnan provincial forestry authorities.

Starting from their original habitat, the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve in Yunnan's southernmost prefecture, on April 16, the herd has wandered over 500 kilometers northward. 

It is unlikely that the elephants will enter the urban area of Kunming, which is home to 8.46 million people, as wild elephants avoid densely populated areas due to their fear of humans, Zhang Li, a field wildlife biologist and professor on mammal conservation at Beijing Normal University, told the Global Times. 

Global Times