Elephant photographer reviews his career through long lens of memory
A renowned Chinese wildlife expert recalls his adventures and proposes measures to reduce conflict between the giant animals and humans. Yang Wanli and Li Yingqing report from Kunming.
However, Zhou's descent was blocked by thick bushes, and the bull caught up with him in just a few seconds. "There were only about 10 centimeters between his trunk and my face. I could clearly feel his warm breath and sense my own fear. It was beyond anything I can put into words," he said.
It was a close call, but Zhou was saved by the brothers, who had noticed the herd as they returned.
The brothers beat bamboo sticks together and made a loud noise to draw the herd away from Zhou. His only injury was a gash on his leg caused by the fall, and the scar it left always reminds him of that meeting with the bull elephant.
New focus
Zhou's two-decade-plus pursuit of wild elephants affected his health. So, in 2013, in poor physical condition, he changed his focus to concentrate on butterfly protection.
However, the news about the herd of elephants that left their habitat in Xishuangbanna and roamed around Yunnan rekindled memories of his days with the animals.
