A drone photo shows Asian elephant A'Bao roaming in the Mengyang area of the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve in Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Southwest China's Yunnan province, on July 26, 2024. XISHUANGBANNA ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT CENTER/FOR CHINA DAILY

The successful reintroduction of Asian elephant A'Bao into the wild in Southwest China's Yunnan province marks a milestone in China's elephant reintroduction experiment.

In 2018, then 12-year-old A'Bao was rescued when lingering in the crowded downtown area of Pu'er city of Yunnan, away from herd.

A pilot project of returning A'Bao into the wild started in July 2022 after years of behavior and re-wilding training at Xishuangbanna Asian Elephant Rescuing and Breeding Center in Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture in Yunnan.

Chen Yubing was assigned to train A'Bao to forage and live in a natural environment, restoring the elephant's nature and viability to live in the wild.

A'Bao was solely trained in the wilderness zone from April 14 until May 17 when it was finally released into the wild.

According to the Xishuangbanna Asian Elephant Conservation Management Center, monitors discovered A'Bao in the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve, wearing the tracking collar, drinking and bathing with 34 wild elephants in the Wild Elephant Valley, and returning to the rainforest in the evening. This behavior is a sign that A'Bao has successfully integrated into an elephant herd.

"He looks stronger and more vigilant," said Bao Mingwei, a veterinarian at the rescuing and breeding center.

Fecal analysis showed that A'Bao eats over 100 types of food, the same as an adult wild elephant.

"This is the first time in China that a rescued wild elephant has been reintroduced into the wild after training," said Wang Bin, head of the management center. The center will continue monitoring the situation of A'Bao to evaluate the reintroduction and develop a systematic, scientific, and replicable process for the reintroduction of Asian elephants.

Asian elephant A'Bao moves with a wild elephant herd in the Wild Elephant Valley in the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve on Sep 5, 2024. XISHUANGBANNA ASIAN ELEPHANT CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT CENTER/FOR CHINA DAILY

Elephant monitor Yang Jun (right) and his colleague operate a drone to trace elephant A'Bao in Xishuangbanna on Aug 10, 2024. HU CHAO/XINHUA

A drone photo shows a corn field eaten by the Asian elephant A'Bao in Dadugang on Aug 10, 2024. HU CHAO/XINHUA

Elephant monitor Li Hongjiang (left) and Pu Zhongqiang ground monitor Asian elephant A'Bao in Dadugang on Sep 14, 2024. HU CHAO/XINHUA

Elephant monitor Pu Zhongqiang adjusts an infrared camera in Dadugang town of Jinghong, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, on Sep 14, 2024. HU CHAO/XINHUA

Elephant monitor Li Hongjiang (right) reminds a tea grower to watch out when he monitors A'Bao in Dadugang on Sep 14, 2024. HU CHAO/XINHUA