The toll of climate change is being extracted on the Elephant population of Kenya. Reportedly, the Kenyan government has termed climate change as a bigger threat to the population of the 'gentle giants' than poaching.

The toll of climate change is being extracted on the Elephant population of Kenya. Reportedly, the Kenyan government has termed climate change as a bigger threat to the population of the 'gentle giants' than poaching. Kenya's Tsavo National Park, one of the largest parks in the world has recorded the death of 179 elephants in the last eight months alone. "We had nine elephants poached in the last eight months and 179 elephants dying because of drought. That is a huge number. The time is ripe to discuss climate change," Najib Balala, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Tourism told local media. Kenya adopts a strategy Balala further stated that his government had taken note of the impact of climate change and developed National Wildlife Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2022-203 to address the threats. The destruction of forests and the natural habitat zones of Elephants are contributing to the changing weather patterns. In an African country like Kenya, the prolonged hot weather due to climate change means that most water bodies run out of water. Over the past decade, Kenya has experienced some of the most severe drought conditions in the last 40 years. According to recent statistics, the population of elephants in Kenya stands at 36,000 which is a considerable improvement from 1989 when numbers stood at 16,000. However, the imminent threat of climate change threatens to undo all the good work. Sustainable financial funding needed The Kenyan minister also asserted that financial funding for such conservation programmes was also needed. Instead of relying on donors, African nations need to strive for financial sustainability. Moreover, in addition to climate change, it is the human-animal conflict regarding the sharing of space that is posing a big challenge to the conservation of elephants. It's not the first time that elephants have died of starvation in an African nation. In 2019, 600 elephants were relocated due to acute starvation caused by drought in Zimbabwe. The relocation process was only prompted when 200 elephants had already died. Read More: Watch: Cranes, CPR & more, dramatic video shows rescue operation involving a mother elephant and her calf Climate change is real and those objecting to it are merely trying to conjure an alternate reality in their heads. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION HERE:

Climate change has killed more elephants than poachers: Kenyan government

In Kenya, the authorities are holding climate change more responsible for killing more elephants than poachers. Authorities have observed that poaching in Kenya has been reduced to a single digit.

WION Climate Tracker| Kenya: Climate change killing more elephants than poachers

The Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area has launched a project surpassing $3 million to determine the number of elephants in the area by using the data gathered by Artificial Intelligence.

Artificial intelligence will help track elephants’ migration patterns in Botswana

It is known that a human’s emotion can very much be influenced by his social bindings. Stress, anxiety, and nervousness is largely attributed to their social behaviour.

And the same can be said about elephants also, as a new study has claimed that tuskers suffer stress and anxiety when alone rather than being in a group.

The research has revealed that loneliness increased male elephants’ levels of stress, while females were less stressed when they had babies.

The <a href="https://www.utu.fi/en/news/press-release/aspects-of-asian-elephants-social-life-are-related-to-their-amount-of-stress">study</a>, conducted by the University of Turku, came to the conclusion after analysing the faeces of Asian elephants in Myanmar to compare the levels of stress hormones.

The team studied 95 Asian elephants in Myanmar who were working in the timber industry.

The researchers think that compared to male elephants, lone females might still be able to interact with other individuals without forming strong social bonds and so the lack of those bonds may not be perceived as stress.

“We found that male elephants show higher levels of stress when they have no friends and when they are in social groups with more males than females,” says Martin Seltmann and professor Virpi Lummaa, co-author of the study.“Female elephants show lower levels of stress when babies are present in the social group. The size of the social group is not related to levels of stress hormones in males or females,” he added.&nbsp;

The team hopes the findings could be used to develop methods to improve the welfare of captive social animals in the future.

"These elephants work in the timber industry, where they pull and push logs out of the forest. However, spending much of their time free in their natural habitat allows the timber elephants to express many of their natural behaviours, which is often not the case in fully captive systems, such as zoos,"&nbsp;says Dr Martin Seltmann from the Department of Biology at the University of Turku, the lead author of the study.

"This is a unique research environment and population that allows us to study many elephants living in their natural environment, but at the same time have detailed information about their social lives," he added.

It is known that a human’s emotion can very much be influenced by his social bindings. Stress, anxiety, and nervousness is largely attributed to their social behaviour.

It is known that a human’s emotion can very much be influenced by his social bindings. Stress, anxiety, and nervousness is largely attributed to their social behaviour. And the same can be said about elephants also, as a new study has claimed that tuskers suffer stress and anxiety when alone rather than being in a group. The research has revealed that loneliness increased male elephants’ levels of stress, while females were less stressed when they had babies. The study, conducted by the University of Turku, came to the conclusion after analysing the faeces of Asian elephants in Myanmar to compare the levels of stress hormones. The team studied 95 Asian elephants in Myanmar who were working in the timber industry. The researchers think that compared to male elephants, lone females might still be able to interact with other individuals without forming strong social bonds and so the lack of those bonds may not be perceived as stress. “We found that male elephants show higher levels of stress when they have no friends and when they are in social groups with more males than females,” says Martin Seltmann and professor Virpi Lummaa, co-author of the study.“Female elephants show lower levels of stress when babies are present in the social group. The size of the social group is not related to levels of stress hormones in males or females,” he added. The team hopes the findings could be used to develop methods to improve the welfare of captive social animals in the future. "These elephants work in the timber industry, where they pull and push logs out of the forest. However, spending much of their time free in their natural habitat allows the timber elephants to express many of their natural behaviours, which is often not the case in fully captive systems, such as zoos," says Dr Martin Seltmann from the Department of Biology at the University of Turku, the lead author of the study. "This is a unique research environment and population that allows us to study many elephants living in their natural environment, but at the same time have detailed information about their social lives," he added.

Just like humans, elephants also experience stress while being alone, says study

Nearly 60&nbsp;elephants&nbsp;enjoyed a huge fruit banquet at a Thai botanical park on Sunday as the Southeast Asian country marked its annual Elephant Day.

Elephants&nbsp;are a source of&nbsp;national&nbsp;pride and cultural identity for&nbsp;Thailand&nbsp;and are used for labour, transport, and battlefield triumphs by warriors and kings.

The event is commonly observed in various other parts of the country, but due to the pandemic and economic woes, some have scaled down&nbsp;celebrations this year.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thailand-bids-to-avert-population-crisis-as-birth-rate-crashes-459836">Thailand bids to avert 'population crisis' as birth rate crashes</a>

At Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in eastern Chonburi province,&nbsp;elephants&nbsp;were treated to two tons of fruits and vegetables laid&nbsp;out&nbsp;on an eight metre wide table.

With the absence of foreign tourists for a long time, the&nbsp;buffet&nbsp;and some visitors brought some joy to the heavyweights.

"Of course, they get bored because they get used to being with people. That's why you see our&nbsp;elephants&nbsp;are very friendly to everyone," said Kampon Tansacha, president of Nong Nooch Tropical Garden.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/its-still-bangkok-thailand-quells-talk-of-name-change-454126">&nbsp;It’s still Bangkok: Thailand quells talk of name change</a>

"People enjoy seeing&nbsp;elephants, give them food, especially bananas that they like and they look all healthy and happy".

Animal rights groups have long been calling for the elephant camps in&nbsp;Thailand&nbsp;to end animal shows and rides, branding the shows as a form of animal abuse.

Nearly 60 elephants enjoyed a huge fruit banquet at a Thai botanical park on Sunday as the Southeast Asian country marked its annual Elephant Day. Elephants are a source of national pride and cultural identity for Thailand and are used for labour, transport, and battlefield triumphs by warriors and kings.

Nearly 60 elephants enjoyed a huge fruit banquet at a Thai botanical park on Sunday as the Southeast Asian country marked its annual Elephant Day. Elephants are a source of national pride and cultural identity for Thailand and are used for labour, transport, and battlefield triumphs by warriors and kings. The event is commonly observed in various other parts of the country, but due to the pandemic and economic woes, some have scaled down celebrations this year. Also read | Thailand bids to avert 'population crisis' as birth rate crashes At Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in eastern Chonburi province, elephants were treated to two tons of fruits and vegetables laid out on an eight metre wide table. With the absence of foreign tourists for a long time, the buffet and some visitors brought some joy to the heavyweights. "Of course, they get bored because they get used to being with people. That's why you see our elephants are very friendly to everyone," said Kampon Tansacha, president of Nong Nooch Tropical Garden. Also read | It’s still Bangkok: Thailand quells talk of name change "People enjoy seeing elephants, give them food, especially bananas that they like and they look all healthy and happy". Animal rights groups have long been calling for the elephant camps in Thailand to end animal shows and rides, branding the shows as a form of animal abuse.

Thailand lays out buffet for elephants in national celebration

In Africa, the population of Elephants has drastically declined due to poaching. They are the main targets of the illegal ivory trade in the country. But now, the DNA in their tusks could map the trafficking network pointing towards the very criminal groups that poached them.

Africa: Researchers tracing tusk DNA of Elephants to reveal trafficking networks

Elephants in Sri Lanka are dying after ingesting plastic waste from landfills. Animal activists are blaming the government for negligence. Mariam Wardak tells you more.

South Asia Dairy | Elephants dies after feeding on Lankan landfills

Elephants in Eastern Sri Lanka are feeding on the open landfill sites and many are dying from ingesting plastic waste. Drone footage shows elephants gorging on waste and falling ill. Here's a report.

Elephants in Sri Lanka die from ingestion of plastic waste

Elephants in Sri Lanka will be given identity cards. The new plan will cover over 200 elephants in Sri Lanka who are kept as pets across the country.

Elephants in Sri Lanka will be given identity cards

Elephants will be given identity cards in Sri Lanka. The new plan will cover over 200 elephants in the country.

Elephants to be given identity cards in Sri Lanka

A herd of elephants in Santa Claus costumes brought gifts of face masks and hand sanitiser to primary school students in central Thailand on Christmas Eve.

Santas on elephants brings Thai school kids face masks, hand sanitiser

Elephants have them. Pigs have them. Narwhals and water deer have them. Tusks are among the most dramatic examples of mammal dentition: ever-growing, projecting teeth used for fighting, foraging, even flirting.

So why, across the broad sweep of geologic history, do such useful teeth only appear among mammals and no other surviving groups of animals? According to a study published Wednesday in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, it takes two key adaptations to teeth to make a tusk — and the evolutionary pathway first appeared millions of years before the first true mammals.

Around 255 million years ago, a family of mammal relatives called dicynodonts — tusked, turtle-beaked herbivores ranging in stature from gopher-size burrowers to six-ton behemoths — wandered the forests of the supercontinent Pangea. A few lineages survived the devastating Permian extinction period, during which more than 90 per cent of Earth’s species died out, before being replaced by herbivorous dinosaurs.

“They were really successful animals,” said Megan Whitney, a paleontologist at Harvard University and lead author of the study. “They’re so abundant in South Africa that in some of these sites, you just get really sick of seeing them. You’ll look out over a field and there’ll just be skulls of these animals everywhere.”

To work out how these animals evolved their tusks, Whitney and her colleagues collected bone samples from 10 dicynodont species, among them the tiny, big-eyed Diictodon and the tank-like Lystrosaurus. They looked at how their canines attached to the jaw, whether they regularly regenerated lost teeth, like many reptiles do, and for indicators that their teeth grew continuously.

Many mammal families have evolved long, saber-toothed fangs or ever-growing incisors for gnawing. Several early dicynodonts also had a pair of long canine teeth poking from their beaks. But these teeth, like most animal teeth, are composed of a substance called dentine, capped by a hard, thin covering of enamel. Tusks have no enamel, Whitney said, and grow continuously even as the comparatively softer dentine gets worn away.

Examining the dicynodont skulls, the team found that a shift occurred midway through the group’s evolution: the appearance of soft tissue attachments supporting the teeth, akin to the ligaments present in modern mammals. And like modern mammals, dicynodonts didn’t continuously replace their teeth.

Both of these shifts laid the groundwork for the development of an ever-growing, well-supported tooth — a tusk. Afterward, Whitney said, late dicynodonts developed tusks at in at least two different lineages, and possibly more.

This evolutionary pathway is reminiscent of another group of tusked animals: elephants. Early elephant relatives had enlarged canines that were covered with enamel, Whitney said. Later members of the family reduced the enamel to a thin band on one side of the tooth, like a rodent incisor, allowing the tooth to grow continuously. Finally, they ditched the enamel entirely.

“You’re providing the means for a tusk to evolve if you unlock the evolution of reduced tooth replacement and soft tissue attachments,” Whitney said. “Once you have a group that has both conditions, you can go a long time of animals playing with different tooth combinations, and you start to see these independent developments of tusks.”

The reason that tusks are currently limited to modern mammals, then, lies in a specific arrangement of teeth that mammals inherited from the broader family of synapsids, the group that includes mammal forerunners like dicynodonts.

Even with those prerequisites, Whitney said, an adaptation like tusks isn’t inevitable. But it is available, and multiple mammal groups — elephants, whales, deer, pigs and walruses — have found uses for them.

“Mammals are kind of stuck with our teeth, unlike something like a shark, which has a conveyor belt of terror,” Whitney said. “So an ever-growing tooth is pretty brilliant if you’re only replacing your tooth once.”

Elephants have them. Pigs have them. Narwhals and water deer have them. Tusks are among the most dramatic examples of mammal dentition: ever-growing, projecting teeth used for fighting, foraging, even flirting.

Elephants have them. Pigs have them. Narwhals and water deer have them. Tusks are among the most dramatic examples of mammal dentition: ever-growing, projecting teeth used for fighting, foraging, even flirting. So why, across the broad sweep of geologic history, do such useful teeth only appear among mammals and no other surviving groups of animals? According to a study published Wednesday in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, it takes two key adaptations to teeth to make a tusk — and the evolutionary pathway first appeared millions of years before the first true mammals. Around 255 million years ago, a family of mammal relatives called dicynodonts — tusked, turtle-beaked herbivores ranging in stature from gopher-size burrowers to six-ton behemoths — wandered the forests of the supercontinent Pangea. A few lineages survived the devastating Permian extinction period, during which more than 90 per cent of Earth’s species died out, before being replaced by herbivorous dinosaurs. “They were really successful animals,” said Megan Whitney, a paleontologist at Harvard University and lead author of the study. “They’re so abundant in South Africa that in some of these sites, you just get really sick of seeing them. You’ll look out over a field and there’ll just be skulls of these animals everywhere.” To work out how these animals evolved their tusks, Whitney and her colleagues collected bone samples from 10 dicynodont species, among them the tiny, big-eyed Diictodon and the tank-like Lystrosaurus. They looked at how their canines attached to the jaw, whether they regularly regenerated lost teeth, like many reptiles do, and for indicators that their teeth grew continuously. Many mammal families have evolved long, saber-toothed fangs or ever-growing incisors for gnawing. Several early dicynodonts also had a pair of long canine teeth poking from their beaks. But these teeth, like most animal teeth, are composed of a substance called dentine, capped by a hard, thin covering of enamel. Tusks have no enamel, Whitney said, and grow continuously even as the comparatively softer dentine gets worn away. Examining the dicynodont skulls, the team found that a shift occurred midway through the group’s evolution: the appearance of soft tissue attachments supporting the teeth, akin to the ligaments present in modern mammals. And like modern mammals, dicynodonts didn’t continuously replace their teeth. Both of these shifts laid the groundwork for the development of an ever-growing, well-supported tooth — a tusk. Afterward, Whitney said, late dicynodonts developed tusks at in at least two different lineages, and possibly more. This evolutionary pathway is reminiscent of another group of tusked animals: elephants. Early elephant relatives had enlarged canines that were covered with enamel, Whitney said. Later members of the family reduced the enamel to a thin band on one side of the tooth, like a rodent incisor, allowing the tooth to grow continuously. Finally, they ditched the enamel entirely. “You’re providing the means for a tusk to evolve if you unlock the evolution of reduced tooth replacement and soft tissue attachments,” Whitney said. “Once you have a group that has both conditions, you can go a long time of animals playing with different tooth combinations, and you start to see these independent developments of tusks.” The reason that tusks are currently limited to modern mammals, then, lies in a specific arrangement of teeth that mammals inherited from the broader family of synapsids, the group that includes mammal forerunners like dicynodonts. Even with those prerequisites, Whitney said, an adaptation like tusks isn’t inevitable. But it is available, and multiple mammal groups — elephants, whales, deer, pigs and walruses — have found uses for them. “Mammals are kind of stuck with our teeth, unlike something like a shark, which has a conveyor belt of terror,” Whitney said. “So an ever-growing tooth is pretty brilliant if you’re only replacing your tooth once.”

How did elephants and walruses get their tusks? It’s a long story.

Elephants are being born without tusks. Bears are becoming smaller in size. Sheep are being born with smaller horns. Human activities are altering the very appearance of animals. How is this happening? Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: Elephants being born without tusks in Mozambique

In a strange development, an increasing proportion of female elephants in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park have been born without tusks. As per scientists, this is an evolutionary response to the brutal killing of elephants for their ivory tusks during the country's 15-year civil war.

In a strange development, an increasing proportion of female elephants in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park have been born without tusks. As per scientists, this is an evolutionary response to the brutal killing of elephants for their ivory tusks during the country's 15-year civil war. Experts working in the park started noticing the phenomenon after the war ended in 1992. Field data and analysis of old video footage found that the proportion of tuskless female elephants increased more than threefold between 1972 and the year 2000. Ryan Long, an associate professor of wildlife sciences at the University of Idaho said that this was the period during which the elephant population tumbled from roughly 2,000 to about 250 individuals. According to a study published in the journal Science, scientists have now developed a better understanding of the genetic basis for the tusklessness and why it only appears to affect female elephants. As per the analysis, the tuskless females were five times more likely to survive during the 28-year period than their tusked female counterparts. In Gorongosa, in the 1970s, 18.5 per cent of the female elephants did not have tusks, while three decades later 5 per cent did. Also read | Polar bears return to Pacific Arctic for first time in 20 years Long, an author of the study was quoted by CNN as saying, "Evolution is simply a change in heritable characteristics within a population over successive generations, and based on the results of our study, the shift toward tusklessness among female elephants at Gorongosa fits this definition perfectly." "The fact that it occurred so rapidly is rare indeed, and is a direct function of the strength of selection," he said via email. "In other words, it happened so quickly because tuskless females had a MUCH higher probability of surviving the war, and thus a MUCH greater potential for passing their genes on to the next generation." As a part of the study, the researchers took blood samples of 18 female elephants, with and without tusks. They also sequenced their genomes. It was then revealed that the females with no tusks had a genetic variation in a very specific region of the X-chromosome. This plays a role in tusk development. The exact genetic and developmental mechanism that leads to tusklessness in females has not yet been understood.

Elephants without tusks? The mammal evolves due to brutal poaching

Bali Elephant Camp (BEC) left more than a dozen elephants to starve, and staff without pay as COVID-19 affected the sales of tickets. BEC is a safari-style park, a half-hour drive north of Ubud, the Indonesian island’s cultural capital.&nbsp;

In 2005, BEC joined a wildlife conservation programme run by the Ministry of Forestry which delegates privately-owned zoos and safari parks in Indonesia with the care of critically endangered Sumatran elephants.&nbsp;

As per a 2007 study by the World Wildlife Fund, there were as few as 2,400 Sumatran elephants left in the wild.&nbsp;

Now, the number is believed to have halved as a result of poaching for ivory, human-elephant conflict, and deforestation.&nbsp;

The birth of three baby elephants over the past 15 years suggests BEC was exceeding its animal welfare requirements. "Our friends in conservation say we have some of the healthiest, happiest elephants they’ve ever seen!" read the official website.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-first-kenya-set-to-launch-wildlife-census-394781">Also read |&nbsp;In a first, Kenya set to launch wildlife census</a>

Femke Den Haas, a veterinarian from the Netherlands who has been working to protect wildlife in Indonesia for 20 years, while speaking to Al Jazeera said that a person cannot imagine a skinny elephant until you see one.

"They are big animals and you’re not meant to see their bones. But that’s what they were – just skin and bones," he was quoted by Al Jazeera.

Haas visited the camp as a partner of Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam Bali (BKSDA). This is the government body that supervises the safari parks and zoos that have adopted Sumatran elephants.

Three out of BEC’s 14 elephants were adopted by an unidentified zoo on the neighbouring island of Java. The remaining 11 were relocated to Tasta Wildlife Park, which is a new zoo that opened in June in Tabanan Regency.

When Al Jazeera visited Tasta Wildlife Park in September, all 11 animals had been successfully rehabilitated and regained weight.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/earths-wild-animal-population-plummets-60-per-cent-in-44-years-wwf-174289">Also read |&nbsp;In 44 years, humans have wiped out 60% of the world's animal population: WWF</a>

Agus Budi Santosa, director of BKSDA said that many industries in Bali have collapsed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Santosa was quoted by Al Jazeera saying, “But the impact on small companies like Bali Elephant Camp has been especially severe. (When tourism stopped)&nbsp;they were no longer able to cover operational costs, especially the cost of feeding elephants. The government had to assist them by paying for food and electricity.”

When confronted, BEC representatives were not available to answer Al Jazeera’s questions about the elephants. Also, their telephone numbers were disconnected.

Bali Elephant Camp (BEC) left more than a dozen elephants to starve, and staff without pay as COVID-19 affected the sales of tickets. BEC is a safari-style park, a half-hour drive north of Ubud, the Indonesian island’s cultural capital.

Bali Elephant Camp (BEC) left more than a dozen elephants to starve, and staff without pay as COVID-19 affected the sales of tickets. BEC is a safari-style park, a half-hour drive north of Ubud, the Indonesian island’s cultural capital. In 2005, BEC joined a wildlife conservation programme run by the Ministry of Forestry which delegates privately-owned zoos and safari parks in Indonesia with the care of critically endangered Sumatran elephants. As per a 2007 study by the World Wildlife Fund, there were as few as 2,400 Sumatran elephants left in the wild. Now, the number is believed to have halved as a result of poaching for ivory, human-elephant conflict, and deforestation. The birth of three baby elephants over the past 15 years suggests BEC was exceeding its animal welfare requirements. "Our friends in conservation say we have some of the healthiest, happiest elephants they’ve ever seen!" read the official website. Also read | In a first, Kenya set to launch wildlife census Femke Den Haas, a veterinarian from the Netherlands who has been working to protect wildlife in Indonesia for 20 years, while speaking to Al Jazeera said that a person cannot imagine a skinny elephant until you see one. "They are big animals and you’re not meant to see their bones. But that’s what they were – just skin and bones," he was quoted by Al Jazeera. Haas visited the camp as a partner of Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam Bali (BKSDA). This is the government body that supervises the safari parks and zoos that have adopted Sumatran elephants. Three out of BEC’s 14 elephants were adopted by an unidentified zoo on the neighbouring island of Java. The remaining 11 were relocated to Tasta Wildlife Park, which is a new zoo that opened in June in Tabanan Regency. When Al Jazeera visited Tasta Wildlife Park in September, all 11 animals had been successfully rehabilitated and regained weight. Also read | In 44 years, humans have wiped out 60% of the world's animal population: WWF Agus Budi Santosa, director of BKSDA said that many industries in Bali have collapsed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Santosa was quoted by Al Jazeera saying, “But the impact on small companies like Bali Elephant Camp has been especially severe. (When tourism stopped) they were no longer able to cover operational costs, especially the cost of feeding elephants. The government had to assist them by paying for food and electricity.” When confronted, BEC representatives were not available to answer Al Jazeera’s questions about the elephants. Also, their telephone numbers were disconnected.

Elephants in Bali left to starve as an impact of COVID-19

A new animal protection law in Sri Lanka will mandate that captive elephants receive their own biometric ID cards and that riders of the animals aren't permitted to drink on the job.

Buddhist priests and other powerful individuals in Sri Lanka often keep elephants as pets as a way to show off their wealth, but the animals are regularly mistreated and abused.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-locks-down-as-covid-19-deaths-surge-hospitals-overflow-407423">Sri Lanka locks down as COVID-19 deaths surge, hospitals overflow</a>

The South Asian nation is home to more than 200 domesticated elephants, while the wild population is estimated at about 7,500.

"The person who owns or has the custody of such elephants shall ensure that the mahout (rider) is not consuming any liquor or any harmful drug while employed," Wildlife Protection minister Wimalaweera Dissanayaka said in a gazette notification dated Thursday.

Aside from strict regulations around working elephants, the new measures mandate requires a daily two-and-a-half-hour bath for&nbsp;each animal.

Owners will be responsible for ensuring that the animals under their care have new photo ID cards that contain a DNA stamp.

Additionally, multiple regulations are added for working elephants.&nbsp;

Aside from government productions, their use in films is stringently prohibited and this too must be done under the strict supervision of a veterinarian.

It is now forbidden to work elephant babies, even at cultural festivals. On top of that, they cannot be separated from their mothers.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/tougher-penalties-to-protect-sri-lanka-elephants-after-mass-deaths-253123">Tougher penalties to protect Sri Lanka elephants after mass deaths</a>

Working elephants for logging can't exceed four hours a day and night work is prohibited.

The tourism industry is also facing new restrictions. Only four people will be allowed to ride an elephant at one time, and the saddle used must be well-padded.&nbsp;

Owners must bring their animals in for a medical checkup every six months.

Violations of the new law can result in an elephant being placed in state care and a prison sentence of three years for the owner.

Elephant experts and animal rights activists claim that over 40 baby elephants have been stolen from national wildlife parks over the past 15 years.

While, wild elephant capture is a criminal offence in Sri Lanka, punishable by death, but prosecutions are rare.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

A new animal protection law in Sri Lanka will mandate that captive elephants receive their own biometric ID cards and that riders of the animals aren't permitted to drink on the job.

A new animal protection law in Sri Lanka will mandate that captive elephants receive their own biometric ID cards and that riders of the animals aren't permitted to drink on the job. Buddhist priests and other powerful individuals in Sri Lanka often keep elephants as pets as a way to show off their wealth, but the animals are regularly mistreated and abused. Also read | Sri Lanka locks down as COVID-19 deaths surge, hospitals overflow The South Asian nation is home to more than 200 domesticated elephants, while the wild population is estimated at about 7,500. "The person who owns or has the custody of such elephants shall ensure that the mahout (rider) is not consuming any liquor or any harmful drug while employed," Wildlife Protection minister Wimalaweera Dissanayaka said in a gazette notification dated Thursday. Aside from strict regulations around working elephants, the new measures mandate requires a daily two-and-a-half-hour bath for each animal. Owners will be responsible for ensuring that the animals under their care have new photo ID cards that contain a DNA stamp. Additionally, multiple regulations are added for working elephants. Aside from government productions, their use in films is stringently prohibited and this too must be done under the strict supervision of a veterinarian. It is now forbidden to work elephant babies, even at cultural festivals. On top of that, they cannot be separated from their mothers. Also read | Tougher penalties to protect Sri Lanka elephants after mass deaths Working elephants for logging can't exceed four hours a day and night work is prohibited. The tourism industry is also facing new restrictions. Only four people will be allowed to ride an elephant at one time, and the saddle used must be well-padded. Owners must bring their animals in for a medical checkup every six months. Violations of the new law can result in an elephant being placed in state care and a prison sentence of three years for the owner. Elephant experts and animal rights activists claim that over 40 baby elephants have been stolen from national wildlife parks over the past 15 years. While, wild elephant capture is a criminal offence in Sri Lanka, punishable by death, but prosecutions are rare. (With inputs from agencies)

Sri Lanka bans 'drunk driving' of elephants, revamps animal protection law

After a time span of 17 months, China’s herd of wandering elephants appears to finally be heading home.

According to reports, the 14 Asian elephants of various sizes and ages were guided across the Yuanjiang river in Yunnan on Sunday night.

Also, a path was being made for them to return to the nature reserve in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture.

On Sunday night, the herd was spotted in Yuanjiang County, which is approximately 200km from the reserve.

The highlights of the elephants' trip included the birth of a calf in Pu’er in November and&nbsp;causing more than 6.8m yuan ($1.07m) in damage, according to estimates by state broadcaster CGTN.

After leaving their nature reserve last year, the herd has travelled for over 500 kilometres across the Yunnan province in China.

They roamed around free through villages and large towns, alike.&nbsp;

Although this herd seems to be on a never-ending epic journey, a lone elephant, who broke away from the herd a month ago, was captured and returned to the home reserve recently, a CNN report said.&nbsp;

This elephant has travelled more than 190 kilometers on its own. It survived on food provided by local authorities and sometimes, foraging into villages.&nbsp;

As the 1.8-tonne male had lingered near populated areas and posed a risk to public safety, the authorities tranquilised and sent it to the reserve.&nbsp;

According to the Yunnan government, there were no external injuries on the elephant, who walked into the rainforest and took a dip in the river after being released.&nbsp;

After a time span of 17 months, China’s herd of wandering elephants appears to finally be heading home. According to reports, the 14 Asian elephants of various sizes and ages were guided across the Yuanjiang river in Yunnan on Sunday night.

After a time span of 17 months, China’s herd of wandering elephants appears to finally be heading home. According to reports, the 14 Asian elephants of various sizes and ages were guided across the Yuanjiang river in Yunnan on Sunday night. Also, a path was being made for them to return to the nature reserve in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. On Sunday night, the herd was spotted in Yuanjiang County, which is approximately 200km from the reserve. The highlights of the elephants' trip included the birth of a calf in Pu’er in November and causing more than 6.8m yuan ($1.07m) in damage, according to estimates by state broadcaster CGTN. After leaving their nature reserve last year, the herd has travelled for over 500 kilometres across the Yunnan province in China. They roamed around free through villages and large towns, alike. Although this herd seems to be on a never-ending epic journey, a lone elephant, who broke away from the herd a month ago, was captured and returned to the home reserve recently, a CNN report said. This elephant has travelled more than 190 kilometers on its own. It survived on food provided by local authorities and sometimes, foraging into villages. As the 1.8-tonne male had lingered near populated areas and posed a risk to public safety, the authorities tranquilised and sent it to the reserve. According to the Yunnan government, there were no external injuries on the elephant, who walked into the rainforest and took a dip in the river after being released.

China’s herd of wandering elephants finally on their way back home

Playing in the mud in childhood is a cherished memory for several people. This long-lost moment was recently brought back to life when a video of some baby elephants wallowing in a pool of mud was shared on social media.&nbsp;

Netizens seem to have got captivated with it as several people have commented, reposted it many times. It is sure to leave you smiling too.&nbsp;

The caption reads “Muddy bliss looks like this!” Netizens also seem to agree with it considering the number of comments.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Muddy bliss looks like this! <a href="https://t.co/OXSeRSoJJA">pic.twitter.com/OXSeRSoJJA</a>
— Sheldrick Wildlife (@SheldrickTrust) <a href="https://twitter.com/SheldrickTrust/status/1419205891224711171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The video, which was shared on July 25, has already got over 19,100 views and numerous reactions. &nbsp;

In the video, the caretakers can also be seen keeping a close watch on the baby elephants. It has been created by Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which operates an orphan elephant rescue and wildlife rehabilitation programme in Kenya.&nbsp;

Shared on Twitter, several orphan baby elephants can be seen frolicking around and being naughty in the video.&nbsp;

Some netizens wished to give a lot of hugs to the elephants while others liked the idea of joining them in the mudbath. Most of them also pointed out to be a delightful video. “Mud spa time,” said a Twitter user.&nbsp;

Playing in the mud in childhood is a cherished memory for several people. This long-lost moment was recently brought back to life when a video of some baby elephants wallowing in a pool of mud was shared on social media.

Playing in the mud in childhood is a cherished memory for several people. This long-lost moment was recently brought back to life when a video of some baby elephants wallowing in a pool of mud was shared on social media. Netizens seem to have got captivated with it as several people have commented, reposted it many times. It is sure to leave you smiling too. The caption reads “Muddy bliss looks like this!” Netizens also seem to agree with it considering the number of comments. Muddy bliss looks like this! pic.twitter.com/OXSeRSoJJA — Sheldrick Wildlife (@SheldrickTrust) July 25, 2021 × The video, which was shared on July 25, has already got over 19,100 views and numerous reactions. In the video, the caretakers can also be seen keeping a close watch on the baby elephants. It has been created by Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which operates an orphan elephant rescue and wildlife rehabilitation programme in Kenya. Shared on Twitter, several orphan baby elephants can be seen frolicking around and being naughty in the video. Some netizens wished to give a lot of hugs to the elephants while others liked the idea of joining them in the mudbath. Most of them also pointed out to be a delightful video. “Mud spa time,” said a Twitter user.

Baby elephants’ gala time with mud catches netizens’ attention 

Last month, a herd of&nbsp;wild Asian elephants shot to fame&nbsp;after&nbsp;continuing&nbsp;on a long journey&nbsp;through southwestern China.&nbsp;&nbsp;

After leaving their&nbsp;nature reserve last year, the&nbsp;herd has travelled for over&nbsp;500 kilometres across the Yunnan province in China.&nbsp;They have been roaming free through villages and large towns, alike.&nbsp;

Although this herd seems to be on a never-ending epic&nbsp;journey, a&nbsp;lone elephant, who broke away from the herd a month ago, was captured and returned to&nbsp;the&nbsp;home reserve&nbsp;recently, a CNN report said.&nbsp;

This elephant has&nbsp;travelled&nbsp;more than 190 kilometers on its own. It survived on food provided&nbsp;by local authorities and&nbsp;sometimes,&nbsp;foraging into villages.&nbsp;

As the&nbsp;1.8-tonne male had lingered near populated areas and posed a risk to public safety, the authorities&nbsp;tranquilised&nbsp;and sent it to&nbsp;the&nbsp;reserve.&nbsp;

According to the Yunnan government, there were no&nbsp;external injuries on the elephant, who walked into the rainforest and took a dip in the river after being released.&nbsp;

The rest of the&nbsp;herd is still marching on. They are&nbsp;being&nbsp;closely monitored by dozens of drones, hundreds of emergency response personnel and police officers&nbsp;round-the-clock.&nbsp;

Last month, a herd of wild Asian elephants shot to fame after continuing on a long journey through southwestern China. After leaving their nature reserve last year, the herd has travelled for over 500 kilometres across the Yunnan province in China.

Last month, a herd of wild Asian elephants shot to fame after continuing on a long journey through southwestern China. After leaving their nature reserve last year, the herd has travelled for over 500 kilometres across the Yunnan province in China. They have been roaming free through villages and large towns, alike. Although this herd seems to be on a never-ending epic journey, a lone elephant, who broke away from the herd a month ago, was captured and returned to the home reserve recently, a CNN report said. This elephant has travelled more than 190 kilometers on its own. It survived on food provided by local authorities and sometimes, foraging into villages. As the 1.8-tonne male had lingered near populated areas and posed a risk to public safety, the authorities tranquilised and sent it to the reserve. According to the Yunnan government, there were no external injuries on the elephant, who walked into the rainforest and took a dip in the river after being released. The rest of the herd is still marching on. They are being closely monitored by dozens of drones, hundreds of emergency response personnel and police officers round-the-clock.

The tale of China’s trek-loving wild Asian elephants 

Touting a world first for "rewilding", an animal charity said Tuesday it was set to fly a herd of elephants from a British zoo to a new home in Kenya.

The Aspinall Foundation said it would use specially built crates aboard a Boeing 747, dubbed the Dumbo jet, to take the 13 pachyderms from their current home near Canterbury in Kent, southeast England. 
 
The charity said it would work with anti-poaching teams to help ensure the long-term survival of the herd -- which includes three babies -- once it reaches one of two sites under consideration in southern Kenya.

The charity's head of communications is Carrie Johnson, wife of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said the plan would also support Kenya's economy after the coronavirus pandemic.

"Life in Kent is pretty good for these elephants, all things considered. But Africa is where they belong," she said in an article for The Sun newspaper, co-written with foundation chairman Damian Aspinall.

It is the first time a breeding herd of elephants will have been rewilded, they said, adding that the operation is planned for next year.

"In time, their descendants will number in the hundreds -- and then the thousands -- and form part of the incomparable ecosystem that helps drive the Kenyan tourist economy."

The Aspinall Foundation operates two wildlife parks in Kent. While the attempt to rewild elephants is a first, last year it transported two cheetahs back to their native territory in South Africa.

Touting a world first for "rewilding", an animal charity said Tuesday it was set to fly a herd of elephants from a British zoo to a new home in Kenya. The Aspinall Foundation said it would use specially built crates aboard a Boeing 747, dubbed the Dumbo jet, to take the 13 pachyderms from their current home near Canterbury in Kent, southeast England.

Touting a world first for "rewilding", an animal charity said Tuesday it was set to fly a herd of elephants from a British zoo to a new home in Kenya. The Aspinall Foundation said it would use specially built crates aboard a Boeing 747, dubbed the Dumbo jet, to take the 13 pachyderms from their current home near Canterbury in Kent, southeast England. The charity said it would work with anti-poaching teams to help ensure the long-term survival of the herd -- which includes three babies -- once it reaches one of two sites under consideration in southern Kenya. The charity's head of communications is Carrie Johnson, wife of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said the plan would also support Kenya's economy after the coronavirus pandemic. "Life in Kent is pretty good for these elephants, all things considered. But Africa is where they belong," she said in an article for The Sun newspaper, co-written with foundation chairman Damian Aspinall. It is the first time a breeding herd of elephants will have been rewilded, they said, adding that the operation is planned for next year. "In time, their descendants will number in the hundreds -- and then the thousands -- and form part of the incomparable ecosystem that helps drive the Kenyan tourist economy." The Aspinall Foundation operates two wildlife parks in Kent. While the attempt to rewild elephants is a first, last year it transported two cheetahs back to their native territory in South Africa.

As part of world's first 'rewilding' efforts, UK elephants head to the wild in Kenya

A mammoth trek across southern China by a herd of elephants that has captivated the world with their playful antics has thrown a spotlight on the loss of their habitat and conservation challenges.

The lumbering mammals have journeyed around 500 kilometres&nbsp;(310 miles) from their home in one of the longest animal migrations of its kind recorded in China.

Scientists are still baffled by what prompted the elephants to leave their home at the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve, bordering Laos.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-15-asian-elephants-on-the-loose-in-china-390461/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Since setting off in spring last year they have pilfered shops and trampled crops worth over $1 million, and thousands of residents have been evacuated from their path.

"For some reason these elephants felt that their traditional home range was no longer suitable... and then&nbsp;they just left to find somewhere else," Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz, an&nbsp;elephant&nbsp;specialist at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, told AFP.

"But they didn't have a destination in mind. They are just moving around trying to find a place that will work for them."

Officials have been tracking the wandering herd with drones round the clock, worried they might go on a rampage if they are stressed.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/heavy-sleepers-elephants-on-epic-trek-take-a-nap-390422">Heavy sleepers: Elephants on epic trek take a nap</a>

Elephants rely on infrasonic sound;&nbsp;the vibration of their feet, to communicate but in towns, they can be easily confused due to vehicle noises.

"What has surprised me the most is that these elephants are very healthy and look very happy despite roaming in densely populated, unfamiliar areas," Campos-Arceiz said.

"These elephants are very playful, which tells me that they are fine," he added.

Forest destructionForests in far southwest Yunnan province where the elephants came from are rapidly giving way to rubber and tea plantations, and herds have become marooned in disconnected preserves.&nbsp;

China is one of the few places in the world where the population of the endangered Asian&nbsp;elephant&nbsp;is increasing, due to strict anti-poaching laws and conservation efforts.

The country's wild&nbsp;elephant&nbsp;numbers have doubled to over 300 animals in the past three decades.

But their habitats have shrunk by nearly two-thirds over the same period, said Zhang Li, a professor of ecology at Beijing Normal University.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-why-did-a-herd-of-elephants-recently-travel-500-kms-in-china-389003">Watch: Why did a herd of elephants recently travel 500 kms in China?</a>

Habitat fragmentation, with hydropower plants and highways blocking old migration paths, makes it difficult to find mates and socialise.&nbsp;

Electric fences built to safeguard villagers also risk injuring wandering animals.

Forest destruction has led to a surge in conflicts between elephants and villagers in the region in recent years.&nbsp;

From 2013 to 2019, more than 70 people have been trampled to death and dozens injured by marauding elephants in Yunnan, data from the local wildlife office shows.

Mammoth task&nbsp;

Scientists are unsure whether a changing landscape was the prompt for the herd's migration, which has made them famous online and drawn international media to follow the march.

Fans have cooed over videos showing a matriarch saving a calf from a gutter and one where elephants line up in a courtyard to drink water with one successfully turning on a tap with its trunk.

State TV launched a 24/7 live&nbsp;elephant&nbsp;video stream to follow the movements of the 15 animals, which includes two calves born on the road.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-poetic-justice-elephants-on-the-loose-in-china-389309/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

But with the elephants showing no sign of returning home or settling down in a new place, attempts by wildlife officials to direct them could be risky, experts warn.

Using truckloads of pineapple and sugarcane to bait them could irreversibly domesticate the herd.&nbsp;

"It's like getting a child used to eating sugar," said Wang Hongxin from Beijing Normal University.

During his surveys of&nbsp;elephant&nbsp;habitats in Yunnan, Wang has seen how "elephant&nbsp;canteens" planted with corn, bamboo and wild bananas to dissuade the beasts from pilfering fields have changed their diet, making them more prone to disease.&nbsp;

"The current march spotlights the threats facing Asian elephants," he added, warning conflicts would rise if habitat size is further reduced.

"Humans must retreat and let land return to the wild."

A mammoth trek across southern China by a herd of elephants that has captivated the world with their playful antics has thrown a spotlight on the loss of their habitat and conservation challenges.

A mammoth trek across southern China by a herd of elephants that has captivated the world with their playful antics has thrown a spotlight on the loss of their habitat and conservation challenges. The lumbering mammals have journeyed around 500 kilometres (310 miles) from their home in one of the longest animal migrations of its kind recorded in China. Scientists are still baffled by what prompted the elephants to leave their home at the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve, bordering Laos. Since setting off in spring last year they have pilfered shops and trampled crops worth over $1 million, and thousands of residents have been evacuated from their path. "For some reason these elephants felt that their traditional home range was no longer suitable... and then they just left to find somewhere else," Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz, an elephant specialist at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, told AFP. "But they didn't have a destination in mind. They are just moving around trying to find a place that will work for them." Officials have been tracking the wandering herd with drones round the clock, worried they might go on a rampage if they are stressed. Also read | Heavy sleepers: Elephants on epic trek take a nap Elephants rely on infrasonic sound; the vibration of their feet, to communicate but in towns, they can be easily confused due to vehicle noises. "What has surprised me the most is that these elephants are very healthy and look very happy despite roaming in densely populated, unfamiliar areas," Campos-Arceiz said. "These elephants are very playful, which tells me that they are fine," he added. Forest destructionForests in far southwest Yunnan province where the elephants came from are rapidly giving way to rubber and tea plantations, and herds have become marooned in disconnected preserves. China is one of the few places in the world where the population of the endangered Asian elephant is increasing, due to strict anti-poaching laws and conservation efforts. The country's wild elephant numbers have doubled to over 300 animals in the past three decades. But their habitats have shrunk by nearly two-thirds over the same period, said Zhang Li, a professor of ecology at Beijing Normal University. Also read | Watch: Why did a herd of elephants recently travel 500 kms in China? Habitat fragmentation, with hydropower plants and highways blocking old migration paths, makes it difficult to find mates and socialise. Electric fences built to safeguard villagers also risk injuring wandering animals. Forest destruction has led to a surge in conflicts between elephants and villagers in the region in recent years. From 2013 to 2019, more than 70 people have been trampled to death and dozens injured by marauding elephants in Yunnan, data from the local wildlife office shows. Mammoth task Scientists are unsure whether a changing landscape was the prompt for the herd's migration, which has made them famous online and drawn international media to follow the march. Fans have cooed over videos showing a matriarch saving a calf from a gutter and one where elephants line up in a courtyard to drink water with one successfully turning on a tap with its trunk. State TV launched a 24/7 live elephant video stream to follow the movements of the 15 animals, which includes two calves born on the road. But with the elephants showing no sign of returning home or settling down in a new place, attempts by wildlife officials to direct them could be risky, experts warn. Using truckloads of pineapple and sugarcane to bait them could irreversibly domesticate the herd. "It's like getting a child used to eating sugar," said Wang Hongxin from Beijing Normal University. During his surveys of elephant habitats in Yunnan, Wang has seen how "elephant canteens" planted with corn, bamboo and wild bananas to dissuade the beasts from pilfering fields have changed their diet, making them more prone to disease. "The current march spotlights the threats facing Asian elephants," he added, warning conflicts would rise if habitat size is further reduced. "Humans must retreat and let land return to the wild."

March of the elephants: China's rogue herd spotlights habitat loss

A herd of wild, Asian elephants is giving China a nightmare. The jumbos are raiding farms, entering car showrooms, even dropping by retirement homes to say hello to the elderly.

Gravitas: 15 Asian Elephants on the loose in China

Heavy sleepers: Elephants on epic trek take a nap

<o:p></o:p>

In China, a herd of 15 wild Asian elephants have captured national attention. They travelled 500 kilometres over the course of the last few weeks. Walking through forests, highways and even urban areas and have now reached the outskirts of Kunming city in Southern Yunnan. <o:p></o:p>

A protected species in China, this herd of wild Asian elephants, for reasons yet unknown has strayed from the Xishuangbanna national nature reserve in Yunnan province.<o:p></o:p>

As per the government, the group initially had 16 elephants, but two drifted away to return to the forest reserve and a baby was born during the walk.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/we-could-lose-these-species-if-climate-change-heats-earth-by-over-15deg-celsius-388984">We could lose these species if climate change heats Earth by over 1.5° Celsius</a>

<o:p></o:p>

According to China’s state news agency, Xinhua, the herd was about 20 km&nbsp;from Kunming, in Yuxi, a city of seven million. Officials from the city have issued early warnings and have been scampering to evacuate citizens to minimise damage to inhabited areas around the city’s border.

<o:p>Check out the video below</o:p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The elephant herd of 17 left China-Myanmar border on Dec, 2020 and made halfway across Yunnan province. 2 elder elephants have since returned on their own. The main herd of 15 continues North toward Yunnan capital Kunming <a href="https://t.co/sO9nhc1Zjb">pic.twitter.com/sO9nhc1Zjb</a>
— Carl Zha (@CarlZha) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlZha/status/1399282583330955269?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Drone images show that the herd is made up of six females, three male adults, three juveniles and three calves.

<o:p></o:p>

Multiple attempts by forest officials, who have been following the herd, to divert them away from populated areas by putting up temporary blockades, have proven to be a failure.

<o:p></o:p>

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-pictures-show-australian-soldiers-drinking-from-slain-afghans-prosthetic-leg-court-told-388997">'Hundreds' of pictures show Australian soldiers drinking from slain Afghan's prosthetic leg, court told</a>

Until Tuesday, more than 360 people, 76 police cars and dirt trucks and nine drones were mobilised in an endeavour to divert the herd. In addition, 18 tonnes of elephant food have been prepared to lure the elephants away from populated areas but to no avail.<o:p></o:p>

The herd passed through several counties, at times wandering into villages and towns, where the sight of these majestic creatures triggered both awe and alarm. Roads had to be cleared, traffic halted on the roads taken by the herd.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Meanwhile a herd of 15 wild Asian elephants spotted migrating north toward China’s Yunnan province capital Kunming <a href="https://t.co/Jg9n7IHLNN">pic.twitter.com/Jg9n7IHLNN</a>
— Carl Zha (@CarlZha) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlZha/status/1399281605206708224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

A journey that the herd started in mid-April has now lasted weeks, a distance of 500 kilometres (or 300 miles) and destruction of around 56 hectares of crops, which caused an estimated 6.8m yuan ($1.07m) in losses.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

As of yet, no casualties have been reported, with locals attempting to guide the animals with food and blocking roads with trucks.<o:p></o:p>

In recent years, there have been more reports of similar cases of elephants wandering into villages and harming crops. According to local officials, amid forest expansion, with the plants these animals usually consume gradually getting replaced by non-edible varieties, herds tend to stray looking for food sources.

<o:p>(With inputs from agencies)</o:p>

In China, a herd of 15 wild Asian elephants have captured national attention. They travelled 500 kilometres over the course of the last few weeks. Walking through forests, highways and even urban areas and have now reached the outskirts of Kunming city in Southern Yunnan.

In China, a herd of 15 wild Asian elephants have captured national attention. They travelled 500 kilometres over the course of the last few weeks. Walking through forests, highways and even urban areas and have now reached the outskirts of Kunming city in Southern Yunnan. A protected species in China, this herd of wild Asian elephants, for reasons yet unknown has strayed from the Xishuangbanna national nature reserve in Yunnan province. As per the government, the group initially had 16 elephants, but two drifted away to return to the forest reserve and a baby was born during the walk. Also Read | We could lose these species if climate change heats Earth by over 1.5° Celsius According to China’s state news agency, Xinhua, the herd was about 20 km from Kunming, in Yuxi, a city of seven million. Officials from the city have issued early warnings and have been scampering to evacuate citizens to minimise damage to inhabited areas around the city’s border. Check out the video below The elephant herd of 17 left China-Myanmar border on Dec, 2020 and made halfway across Yunnan province. 2 elder elephants have since returned on their own. The main herd of 15 continues North toward Yunnan capital Kunming pic.twitter.com/sO9nhc1Zjb — Carl Zha (@CarlZha) May 31, 2021 × Drone images show that the herd is made up of six females, three male adults, three juveniles and three calves. Multiple attempts by forest officials, who have been following the herd, to divert them away from populated areas by putting up temporary blockades, have proven to be a failure. Also Read | 'Hundreds' of pictures show Australian soldiers drinking from slain Afghan's prosthetic leg, court told Until Tuesday, more than 360 people, 76 police cars and dirt trucks and nine drones were mobilised in an endeavour to divert the herd. In addition, 18 tonnes of elephant food have been prepared to lure the elephants away from populated areas but to no avail. The herd passed through several counties, at times wandering into villages and towns, where the sight of these majestic creatures triggered both awe and alarm. Roads had to be cleared, traffic halted on the roads taken by the herd. Meanwhile a herd of 15 wild Asian elephants spotted migrating north toward China’s Yunnan province capital Kunming pic.twitter.com/Jg9n7IHLNN — Carl Zha (@CarlZha) May 31, 2021 × A journey that the herd started in mid-April has now lasted weeks, a distance of 500 kilometres (or 300 miles) and destruction of around 56 hectares of crops, which caused an estimated 6.8m yuan ($1.07m) in losses. As of yet, no casualties have been reported, with locals attempting to guide the animals with food and blocking roads with trucks. In recent years, there have been more reports of similar cases of elephants wandering into villages and harming crops. According to local officials, amid forest expansion, with the plants these animals usually consume gradually getting replaced by non-edible varieties, herds tend to stray looking for food sources. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Why did a herd of elephants recently travel 500 kms in China?

Israeli residents young and old rushed to shelters across Israel during the recent conflict between Israel and militants in Gaza, but they were not alone. Even animals took precautions.

Elephants gather to shield their young as rocket siren sounds in Israel

Using a long needle, Chinese artist Yin Yue diligently pokes a piece of wool onto a large pink-purple elephant made out of wool felt in her studio in Beijing. She stumbled onto wool felt art about a decade ago, and has made it into a career.

Chinese artist creates elephants and mushroom-headed figures out of wool felt

Environmentalists on Thursday rang alarm bells on the declining elephant populations across Africa, warning that one species was on the brink of extinction.&nbsp;

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in its updated "Red List" of threatened species said that forest elephants in Africa are the worst-affected as their numbers have fallen more than 86 per cent in three decades.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/african-elephants-face-growing-risk-of-extinction-red-list-373420/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

It said that these elephants are now designated as "critically endangered", meaning they face the most risk of getting extinct.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, there has been a 60 per cent reduction in the population of African savanna elephants in the last 50 years, IUCN said, adding the species to the "endangered" list.&nbsp;

The development is big as earlier elephants from the continent, taken as a single species was regarded as vulnerable, but not endangered.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/4000-kilo-female-elephants-one-hit-from-trunk-kills-zookeeper-366411">4000-kilo female elephant's one hit from trunk kills zookeeper</a>

"Today's new IUCN Red List assessments of both African elephant species underline the persistent pressures faced by these iconic animals," IUCN chief Bruno Oberle in a statement said.

News agency AFP reported that 50 years ago, there were nearly 1.5 million elephants in Africa, but poaching and shrinking habitats have resulted in only about 415,000 left.&nbsp;

"It is a wake-up call to the entire globe that we are going down a steep terrain, when it comes to... the viability of these elephants," Benson Okita-Ouma of Save the Elephants and the co-chair of the IUCN African Elephant Specialist Group said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Environmentalists on Thursday rang alarm bells on the declining elephant populations across Africa, warning that one species was on the brink of extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in its updated "Red List" of threatened species said that forest elephants in Africa are the worst-affected as their numbers have fallen more than 86 per cent in three decades.

Environmentalists on Thursday rang alarm bells on the declining elephant populations across Africa, warning that one species was on the brink of extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in its updated "Red List" of threatened species said that forest elephants in Africa are the worst-affected as their numbers have fallen more than 86 per cent in three decades. Watch | It said that these elephants are now designated as "critically endangered", meaning they face the most risk of getting extinct. Meanwhile, there has been a 60 per cent reduction in the population of African savanna elephants in the last 50 years, IUCN said, adding the species to the "endangered" list. The development is big as earlier elephants from the continent, taken as a single species was regarded as vulnerable, but not endangered. Also read | 4000-kilo female elephant's one hit from trunk kills zookeeper "Today's new IUCN Red List assessments of both African elephant species underline the persistent pressures faced by these iconic animals," IUCN chief Bruno Oberle in a statement said. News agency AFP reported that 50 years ago, there were nearly 1.5 million elephants in Africa, but poaching and shrinking habitats have resulted in only about 415,000 left. "It is a wake-up call to the entire globe that we are going down a steep terrain, when it comes to... the viability of these elephants," Benson Okita-Ouma of Save the Elephants and the co-chair of the IUCN African Elephant Specialist Group said.

Environmentalists raise concern as African elephants see massive decline

Fifty-nine couples in Thailand tied the knot on elephants on Sunday (February 14) in a special Valentine's Day wedding ceremony.

Couples in Thailand tie the knot on elephants on Valentine's Day

While most of Reid Park Zoo's animals cosied up in warmth amid a rare snow flurry on Tuesday (January 26), the elephants of this Arizonian zoo decided to stay out for a snowy romp instead.

Elephants take snowy romp in sun-kissed Arizona

Animals at Berlin Zoo enjoyed a belated Christmas feast on Thursday (7 JANUARY 2021). Elephants and bison at the German capital's famous zoo chomped down on discarded Christmas trees, donated from tree suppliers.

Animals at Berlin Zoo enjoy Christmas leftovers

Christmas arrived early in central Thailand on Wednesday (December 23), with elephants wearing Santa hats and giant face masks handing out masks to primary school students.

Elephants hand out Christmas cheer and face masks to Thai students

elephants

Elephants, News on Elephants, stories on Elephants, articles on Elephants, Elephants stories at Wion, Elephants news, Elephants latest news