Wild animals thrive as environment improves

Conflicts between humans and small animals such as raccoon dogs are comparatively easy to handle, but when clashes occur between local residents and large animals, finding the right solution is more challenging.

Last month, a herd of 15 wild Asian elephants in Yunnan province traveled about 500 kilometers north and arrived on the outskirts of Kunming, the provincial capital. Experts believed the animals had roamed so far to find new habitat due to human population growth.

In China, the elephant population, which numbered just 170 in the 1970s, has risen to about 300 thanks to conservation efforts and habitat protection.

As elephants seek more room for their offspring, conflicts between the animals and humans have arisen. From 2014 to last year, insurance compensation for property losses caused by elephants in Yunnan reached 173 million yuan ($26.69 million), according to the provincial forestry department.