China’s elephant ‘canteen’ keeps villagers safe from peckish pachyderms
Opening of feeding area for jumbos has greatly reduced the number of encounters with people, officials say
Forestry authorities in southwestern China have opened a “canteen” for wild Asian elephants in a bid to stop them wandering into villages in search of food and coming into conflict with humans.
The facility spans about 66 hectares in a wildlife reserve in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province, China National Radio reported.
To make it irresistible to the pachyderms, the area has been stripped of all non-native trees and shrubs and restocked with their favourite food plants. These include such delights as paper mulberry and Nepalese broom grass, the report said.
With such an abundant food supply, the elephants are not the only creatures attracted to the new area. Antelopes and boars have also been seen tucking in to the treats on offer.