CCTV News: Continue to pay attention to Asian elephants that returned home for a year after last year's "return to the north and south". These days, as corn, fruits, etc. have entered the ripening period, the Asian elephants living in Yunnan have also ushered in the most blessed time of the year. In Pu'er, Yunnan, Xishuangbanna and other places, the "Elephant Canteen" specially opened for Asian elephants.
This is the rhythm of the elephants' life in the "elephant canteen" - eating and playing, swimming when tired, and eating when hungry. From the footage taken by the drone, we can see that the Pu'er River in Yunnan province after the autumn is soothing, the mountains and forests are layered, and it is green. The corn and plantains growing in the farmland, as well as the brown leaf reeds and elephant grasses on both sides of the road are the favorite foods of elephants, although they belong to different families, but because of the food, they often "meet" and "eat" here.
Jiang Shulin, CCTV reporter of the General Radio Station: Chasing elephants in the vast mountains is a manual work, with the help of the Locally Established Asian Elephant Monitoring System, we found a monitor in this area, and now we immediately follow the monitor Lao Bai to the mountains to chase the elephants.
Along the way, there are traces of elephants passing by, huge footprints, fallen crops and fruit trees, and corn cobs that have been eaten almost everywhere. Near noon, the reporter crossed the mountains and finally saw the elephants with his own eyes.
Asian elephant monitor Bai Xiao: Like this is its world, come out at three or four o'clock in the afternoon to eat, want to come out to eat, the next morning at eleven or twelve o'clock it will enter the woods.
Asian elephant monitors have found that using food to guide Asian elephants back into the forest can reduce the impact of Asian elephants on the production and life of the masses. Therefore, according to the actual situation, the local government subsidized 200 yuan per mu on the land that was abandoned and abandoned due to frequent infestations of Asian elephants, and encouraged farmers to plant plantains, corn, palm leaf reeds, etc. that Asian elephants like to eat at different times and in different seasons. If the crop is eaten by an Asian elephant, the insurance company will compensate accordingly; If not fed, farmers can harvest on their own. The activity rules of elephants and the personal safety of nearby villagers are two key factors to consider when choosing to build an "elephant canteen".
Ma Bin, director of the Forestry Center of Yixiang Town, Simao District, Pu'er City, Yunnan Province: Ordinary people have planted 670 acres of corn here, and at the same time planted some plantains on the slopes. Elephants eat here, there is a distance from the village, and the safety of the people is also guaranteed.
Zhou Zhitao, chief of the Wildlife Protection and Wetland Management Section of the Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Pu'er City, Yunnan Province: In 2022, Pu'er City has added 7,000 mu of Asian elephant food source base, mainly distributed in Simao District, Lancang County and Jiangcheng County where Asian elephants are active, focusing on the main channels and areas of elephant activities, which can meet the needs of Asian elephants for wild feeding, reduce the chance of entering the village and damaging crops, alleviate the contradiction between people and elephants, and promote the harmony of people and elephants.
During last year's Asian elephant's journey back to the north and south, the wild elephants made their own "straw hats" to prevent heat and cool down. These days, baby elephants who "eat together" in the "elephant canteen" also have no teachers, play with mud and grass with their noses, and once again dress up as "straw hat elephants".
This is the summer of 2021, the reporter used a drone to capture an interesting scene, during the journey, the Asian elephant herd tried its best to avoid the heat and cool down, they will throw soil to each other, and the nose is the best earth-scattering artifact. One of the adult elephants, when scattering soil, threw itself on and on his head with the grass, as if he had made a straw hat for himself. What is particularly interesting is that all the way to the storm, this "straw hat" has never been taken off, which is quite interesting.
The fun scene continued to play out this year. In the "elephant canteen" of Pu'er River City, just when other family members enjoyed corn delicacies, the newborn baby elephant began to laugh at himself: according to the experience he learned with his parents on weekdays, he first rolled up the dirt with his nose, threw it on his back, threw it for a while and then rolled grass on his back, the first time he was unsuccessful, not discouraged, and then came. After three or four times, the baby elephant has dressed himself up as a "straw hat elephant." The "after-skin" little guy did not forget to proudly give the elephant a live display and a variety of cuteness.
Shen Qingzhong, senior engineer of the Management and Conservation Bureau of Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve: The elephant herd, especially the female elephant, is very strict in its protection, and the general activity distance will not be too far, almost a week or so will take it farther or even into the water, teach it some life skills, and the imitation ability of the baby elephant is very strong, just like our children.
As the largest animal on land, elephants are large and have well-developed limbs. So, how do two elephants who love each other show affection together? Immediately look through the reporter's live camera to find out.
Through the lens, we see the elephant in love changing its former composure and dancing and interacting.
This is the elephant dance "Fast Three", the rhythm is cheerful, and the dancers are enthusiastic. Because the elephant is in the beginning of its emotions, it is also following the trend at this time, chasing and beating.
This is the elephant dance "Slow Four", with a soothing rhythm and elegant manners. Because the elephants know each other's love, they seem to be affectionate, you and me.
This is an elephant trunk dance, and the male elephant uses a long elephant trunk to play the rhythm, beckoning the object of the favorite to eat and enjoy together.
It was an elephant ear dance, two elephants, ears grinding, whispering, it seemed that there was no end to speaking, and there was not enough confidant to hear.
The drone in charge of monitoring also recorded the complete scene of the final mating process of the "couple elephant", and next to them, a small elephant was playing under the care of an adult elephant. Asian elephants prefer to live in groups, ranging from a few to a dozen in each group. It usually takes 18-22 months from successful mating to baby elephant birth, but new monitoring data shows that Asian elephants tend to be pregnant earlier.
Zhou Zhitao, chief of the Wildlife Conservation and Wetland Management Section of the Pu'er Forestry and Grassland Bureau: The data we monitored found that asian elephants can now eat some refined grains, such as corn, sugar cane, etc., and its feeding time is greatly shortened, and the pregnancy cycle is correspondingly shortened.
Source: CCTV