The Great Elephant Journey Across China: A Mystery Unfolds

A year ago, a herd of 15 elephants, including calves, mysteriously left their nature reserve and began wandering through Yunnan Province in China, leaving significant destruction in their wake. The herd gained international fame as media outlets worldwide tracked their 500-kilometer journey from the mountainous regions of Yunnan in southwest China to its capital, Kunming.

Numerous videos of the herd were posted on social media, gaining significant engagement. Photos of the herd sleeping gathered 25,000 posts and 200 million views. One user commented, "We should be more like the elephants, be more family-oriented, go on family vacations, help, care, and protect each other."

The herd was captured on security cameras walking through city streets at night, regularly filmed from above by drones, and monitored to minimize damage and prevent collisions with residents. Nonetheless, the damage was unavoidable. The elephants raided farms in search of food and water and even arrived at a nursing home. Thank Hashem, no one was injured, but the damage to crops reached over a million dollars.

Reports indicate the herd consists of six females, three adult males, three adolescents, and three calves. At the start of the journey, the group numbered 16 elephants – two returned home, and one calf was born during the trek. The reason behind the elephants' journey remains unclear. Some speculate that the herd's leader simply got lost. Regardless of the reason, China provides the elephants with maximum protection, urging farmers and others to stay calm when encountering them. Residents are advised to remain indoors, not to stare, and not to scare them with fireworks or other methods.

Passive measures have been used to deter them from urban areas, including the placement of trucks and construction equipment to block roads and aerial food drops to lure them away. A regional command center overseeing the herd reported this week that the elephants have likely paused for a rest. More than 410 emergency personnel and police, dozens of vehicles, and 14 drones are involved in the monitoring operation. Additionally, local residents have been evacuated from their homes, temporary traffic control measures have been implemented, and two tons of elephant food have been delivered. The command center stated another objective is "to maintain silence to create conditions leading the elephants westward and southward."

Watch footage of the herd in the streets of China