China will invest more than 130 million yuan to start an Asain
Elephant Protection Project. The Asian elephant, a rare species
safeguarded under China's highest-level of state protection, is
native to Xishuangbanna and Simao, southwest
Yunnan
Province.
The Asian elephant is also listed as one of the most endangered
animals in the world, with numbers having dwindled to less than
300. The protection system project, to be issued soon, is divided
into seven parts involving nature reserve extension, habitat
restoration and joint management of communities.
The habitat will be enlarged to 150,000 hectares. A 37,000-hectares
food planting base and 126 niter ponds where the animals frequently
congregate will be built to provide them with salt. A 450-km
ecological separation belt will also be built to protect nearby
villages.
The Asian Elephant Protection Project will play an important part
in the country's wildlife and plant protection and nature reserve
construction. The project is to be completed within the next 10
years. So far, the construction plan has been finished and part of
the project will be started in November in Xishuangbanna, according
to sources involved.
(China.org.cn translated by Li Jingrong November 5, 2002)