In August, 2015, Yangniu, one of the most popular elephants in the area, was found by villagers after being abandoned by her mother. Before being rescued by veterinarians, the animal was treated and fed by residents.

"The total number of Asian elephants has risen from about 170 in the 1980s to some 300 now. This is strong proof that people's awareness has greatly increased, and that there have been few incidents of harm being caused to wild animals in recent years," Li Zhongyuan said.

Yang Hua, deputy director of the flora and fauna department at the Yunnan forestry and grassland bureau, said wild elephants have ventured farther afield as conservation efforts have been stepped up.

In the 1990s, the elephants were located in three counties and 14 towns, but by the end of last year, they had been reported in 12 counties and 55 townships, he said.

The province employs 122 full-time elephant observers. All areas have drawn up emergency plans to protect the animals and residents and also for reducing the possibility of the elephants encountering humans, Yang said.

In recent years, 11 nature reserves with a total area of 509,800 hectares have been set up in areas of Yunnan with significant elephant populations. Villages in 10 areas have been relocated from the reserves and more than 600 hectares of habitat has been restored, Yang said.

In 2003, the Xishuangbanna Asian Elephant Breeding and Rescue Center was established and the province also set up a technical rescue team for elephants in the wild.

Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve has signed cooperation agreements with three provinces in northern Laos, forming five joint protection areas covering a total of nearly 133 sq km to ensure the safety of cross-border elephant habitats.

Local authorities are speeding up construction of an Asian elephant national park system, which they want to launch as soon as possible.