Wandering elephant returned to reserve in China

A wandering elephant was returned to a nature reserve in China on Wednesday after leaving it last year. 

The male elephant was one of 16 that left Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve and traveled more than 300 miles, the government said, The Associated Press reported on Thursday.

The 10-year-old elephant was tranquilized near the city of Yuxi after he left the rest of the herd more than a month ago and was taken back to the reserve by truck, China Daily reported.

The elephant was sent back since it was traveling too close to populated areas.

Two other elephants from the herd have been previously returned to the reserve, and one elephant has been born since the herd left the reserve, according to the AP.

There are three males, six females, two juveniles and three calves in the wandering herd, officials say.

The AP reports that the Yunnan Office of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission has said $950,000 in losses caused by the elephants have been reported by residents, but no injuries have been reported. 

Authorities have been closely tracking the herd and have used food to make sure the elephants don’t go into heavily populated areas.