Discussion keeps the world turning.
This is Round Table. Hey guys, it's me Hayoung.
I am going on a one week trip.
More like an expedition in search of Asian wild elephants and their wild habitat.
And these majestic creatures are such a vital part of our ecosystem.
I invite you all to join me on this unexpected journey into nature and rainforests.
There are so many unknowns.
The only known thing is it's going to be an unforgettable experience and I will share every bit of juicy detail with you.
Off we go, nature lovers.
It's the International Day for Biological Diversity.
And there is a decent chance that you've been cooped up inside all day.
So it's time to breathe in some fresh air and get some time in the great outdoors.
Let me your ears and let's take a walk on the wild side into the lush, tropical heart of Sichuan Banan, die autonomous prefecture.
This corner of southern Yunnan province in the southwest part of China is an absolute jungle jewel.
Boasting some of the most mind-blowing biodiversity in all of China with lush mountain slopes, trickling rivers, and 80% forest cover, Sichuan Banan is a true feast for the senses.
We're talking over 5,000 plant species, 800 vertebrates, and countless invertebrates.
Up to 300 wild Asian elephants roaming free here, ripping up trees and having a blast with dust and mud.
On this expedition, the wild elephants aren't the star attraction, no doubt.
But I'm just as jazzed to showcase the bull, wildly diverse cast of Sichuan Banan's flora and fauna.
And you are coming with me.
You know what they say, no risk, no reward.
And that's exactly what we're chasing, as I hop on this bumper tricycle.
And we're bouncing off into the remote mountains near Manyan Village in Mengla County.
The search of wild elephants is on.
Hey guys, now I am on the search for wild Asian elephants.
And guess where I am at? Well, this little narrow road is really bumpy, and there's only this little tricycle that can carry us all the way to the mountains.
Whoa! I mean, all the bumpy rides just add to the sense of reward, I suppose, once we get to see the elephants and we stop yikes.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Oh, those guys on motorbike have nicely peeled the wave for us.
Okay, gosh, okay, now I'm just firmly on the floor.
I mean, of this tricycle, because there's just no way otherwise.
Can't I? Just think. Okay, just got great news that what we get out from the mountain will be on this bumpy ride again.
So this tricycle is actually pretty handy, one of our co-travelers just said that this is much more fun than Disneyland.
Whoa! What do you know what a zoo, a good way off.
Well, I try to get myself firmly hooked onto the side of the vehicle so I can stay on the vehicle and, gosh, I can feel my bulging bicep.
And I'm already exhausted.
The buildup for this search is immense.
Whoa! Whoa! Before we venture further, Xi-Yi-Juan Ban-A is a sensory feast of sights, smells, and sounds that refresh the soul.
There's no better place to kick off our rainforest adventure than the lush living exhibition the Xi-Yi-Juan Ban-A, Botanical Garden.
I'm surrounded by lush greenery and exotic blooms of every shape, size, and color.
The air is thick, with the intoxicating fragrances of this living, breathing outdoor museum.
Bribed at the Xi-Yi-Juan Ban-A, Tropical Botanical Garden, while this is the weather which is analogous to the mood of a capricious person.
One minute, it is drizzling, and the next minute, it's all clear, sunny again.
Well, it's located in Mengla Town, Mengla County.
Xi-Yi-Juan Ban-A, diatonmus prefecture in Yunnan Province, China.
The Xi-Yi-Juan Ban-A Tropical Botanical Garden is a comprehensive research institute and scenic area directly under the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.
It integrates scientific research, species conservation, and science popularization founded in 1959 under the guidance of the reputable Chinese botanist, Mr.
Cao Shi-Tao. The garden covers an area of approximately 1125 hectares and houses over 13,000 species of living plants.
It features 38 specialized plant zones and preserves approximately 250 square kilometers of pristine tropical rainforest.
This is an important treasure trove of specimens when it comes to the biodiversity preservation efforts in this country.
And it is the largest botanical garden in China in terms of area, the richest in species.
It is also the botanical garden in the world with the largest number of plant species preserved outdoors and displayed to the public.
There's nothing quite like learning from a truly passionate expert.
My name is Kyle Turmelinson and I'm a plant ecologist.
And that's the vibe I got at dinner when I found myself eavesdropping on one of the plant experts from the next table.
Needless to say, I've pulled him aside for an impromptu interview.
I guess my perspective is more a kind of ethical position.
As a biologist, I believe that not all species are necessary to maintain ecosystem functions.
But I believe that we have a responsibility as stewards of the earth to maintain all species.
And how many years and what kind of work have you devoted to this cause?
And working here for quite some time, I overheard over dinner and that's how we met today.
I've been here for just over 10 years now.
And I think in terms of biodiversity, maybe the most important work I do is about the distribution of grasslands and savannas.
And the reason for this is they house a lot of species, both plants and animals.
And they very misunderstood in Asia.
Like there's a large scale perception in Asia that this area, this landscape was dominated by forests.
And that's certainly true there are areas that were historically forest and that includes Tishman Banner.
But there are also other parts of Yunnan and Southeast Asia that appear to be some kind of grassy vegetation.
And that means that they are open landscapes, they need a lot of light.
And the species that live there will not survive if there's not sufficient light reaching the ground.
And that is a completely different perspective because that means that it is not forest.
Forest is an ecosystem with a closed canopy.
There's very little light in the understory and that selects for different species.
Why is that important for biodiversity?
Because here are a bunch of species.
If we want to preserve them, we need to get the management right.
And we only get the management right if we understand what the ecosystem of the landscape really is.
And what's kept you here in Tishman Banner?
Is it for like 10 years or so?
And what do you have to say to the listeners and audiences who are going to see this in this country?
Well, I think that Tishman Banner is a particularly nice place to live and have you visited the Botanical Garden yet or not?
I will, hopefully for a couple of hours maybe tomorrow.
Okay, well I hope you get a whole day because it's very big.
And when you go, you will see that it is a fantastic place to live.
Right? And it's a very easy environment to do research.
We have a very good research center in the eastern part of the garden with maybe 2 to 300 scientists.
And it's a very competitive environment and a very stimulating place to live.
But also just a very pleasant place to be.
And I'm not a big city person.
I like small places. I like to be able to ride quickly to my work and get stressed out by traffic.
This is a perfect environment for me.
In addition, it's very well located because my work is about Yunnan but also about Southeast Asia.
And Tishman Banner is the gateway of China to Southeast Asia.
Can you exactly at the right place to be?
I'm so happy for you and thank you so much for agreeing to talk to me.
And I'll let you get back to partying with friends and some very delicious foods as opposed to.
Are you enjoying the day, Christine?
Yes, it's fantastic. Thank you so much.
But of course, the plants are just one piece of this intricate biodiversity puzzle.
Biodiversity, short for biological diversity, refers to the variety and variability of life on Earth.
It encompasses the diversity within species called genetic diversity between species, also known as species diversity and within ecosystems, also known as ecosystem diversity.
Biodiversity includes all living organisms, their relationships to each other and their environments, contributing to the complexity and resilience of ecological systems.
It's absolutely crucial to protect ecosystem diversity in which growing populations of animals, plants and everything within get to thrive.
More population means more genetic resources and that generates more genetic diversity.
To understand the full challenge of conservation, let's bring in the director general of the Sichuan Banan Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Here's Professor of Botany, Yang Yongping.
Is the present status of China's rainforest conservation.
What about on a scale of, let's say, one to a hundred and a hundred being the best?
How would you grade it? I will give it the 90.
Oh, that's an A. Yeah, but on the other side, we can do is more to improve our management of the natural reserves.
On that note, what do you think we can do?
All of the three fields we have to improve.
The first is we have to get more understanding about the climate change to the natural reserves.
Now we use the, it's a perfect approach system.
It's a released some of the humans disturbance, but the climate change is there.
It's especially for the extremely climate change.
It's a very negative impact to the forest.
The second is a, it's a how to prevent is the invasions of the alien species, including the insects and plants.
Give you an example. There is one the plants native to Mexico, the English name where you should call it is Butterfly weed.
This is a very common in Shishanbanai.
Now it's the plants, it's a dominate in the second forest, but also in the natural reserves.
So in the coming years, our management have to spend how to protect our natural reserve from the invasions of those kind of the alien species.
The third one is that we have to get a solution to deal with the conflicts between the wildlife and the peoples.
In Shishanbanai, you may already heard about the ancient elephant.
The elephant is frequently lived in natural reserve and to the village, this has become a big issue.
We first have to understand that it's the animal wildlife of behavior, but on the other side, we have to protect our peoples from the enjoy and also distractions from the elephant.
Yes indeed, and it's the search for Asian wild elephants that brought me here in the first place.
I would also like to pick your brain on how to find solutions.
Before we turn down the mic, you mentioned something along the lines of nature-based solution for environmental restoration.
How do you apply this field of work?
Yes, this is a great solution.
Especially when we are talking about the rehabilitation and restoration, the natural-based solution is to keep away from the humans' disturbance, including the plant trees and human disturbance, given it's nature-applying, nature-based solutions will keep the more diversity, including biodiversity, diversity is extremely important for the ecosystem stability.
This environmental solution is a time consuming, but on the other side, the public costs the effect to you.
So is it like basically you're telling all people, economic activity, human activity, all to just back off, close up an area, and just let nature run its own course?
Well, you mentioned this is time-consuming.
I guess maybe in a way we're just so used to trying to do something, backing off and doing nothing just sounds a little bit nerve-wracking too.
Yes, sometimes when we say the given nature is the time, it's how long, public is very difficult, like the heavily degraded ecosystem, this is the very difficult only use in natural-based solution.
But how to do that? This is a very scientific question.
For instance, in Xi Xiangpang, when we want to restore the rubber plantation to be a natural forest, because it's a lower productivity rubber plantation, then the government will encourage it to this, it's a natural forest.
We cannot say we do nothing, we are waiting for the nature, we will plant some trees.
How to do that? It's a very first, it's a plant-initiative tree species, rather than it's from the other place.
The second is that we use the framework tree, framework tree is a very scientific question.
It will become big trees in such kind of forest.
So the natural-based solution, much depend on its water kind of ecosystem, how much is degraded, that's what I would like to highlight.
So it's a very scientific decision as well.
It's not like washing your hands off this area and just let it be, it's not like that.
Yeah, no, no, we try to get integrated.
Now let's take a fun detour.
Who here is a fan of bugs?
Not me, that's for sure.
But when I got the opportunity to explore the botanical garden at night, I jumped at it.
I'm not sure if I want to touch it.
There's nothing quite like seeing biodiversity in action after dark.
Wow! Don't make it nervous!
It's resting nicely in the palm of this insect expert.
It's translucent, almost like a glowing green amber.
Wow! That is just beautiful.
Oh, there's a Shemushengyan!
And what you just heard now, that is the male peacocks.
I suppose they're sending out the love messages.
I never knew that peacocks sound like that.
Oh, my. Oh. Okay. Okay, they sound a little bit desperate for mating.
Okay, male peacocks. I guess they're all peacocking.
Did you get that? Sorry, I'm support joke.
Okay, so what else are we looking at?
Actually, I'm on this expedition with a whole bunch of insect lovers.
So, it's crazy, the kind of equipment that everybody's got.
One person has got like three five vault spotlights on his mega camera with like octopus hands.
I don't know what that's called, but yeah, people are really devoted into, is this called insect watching or some kind of in-depth study.
And also I think there is maybe some kind of prestige that is very palpable among those in this circle.
People have really rich knowledge.
Oh! What is that? Oh! Oh!
And right now I see this spider probably bigger than my thumbnail and it is weaving a web in a triangular shape.
And it is even really fast.
Oh, wow! So, the spider can actually re-eat the web that it's woven.
So, that is true self recycling.
Saving resources. Truly a very thrifty lifestyle that spider has.
Okay, moving on. Wow, this place is completely different at night in the dark.
But, um, currently because we had rain last night and that usually means lighting bugs are ready to surface.
This whole swarm of night explorers are taking a turn into the unknown darkness.
This is a one of the first generation.
This is called a white flower.
Wow, this is so beautiful.
Oh! This is a light-hearted cat.
Yes, yes. Wow, now our insect guide has just spotlighted a dragonfly with a white stomach.
And apparently it's sleeping and resting up in a tree.
And this kind of dragonfly is in which you usually are able to spot in this city.
This is a shark! A big bear!
I was looking at a huge moss.
No, actually I was looking at the baby of the giant moss.
You know what else is a really popular star to spot at night?
It is all kinds of different types of owls and some of the nature enthusiasts here.
They're hotly anticipating to spot a couple of owls.
Wow, that's a shy owl. Ew!
I just realized what I was looking at.
Okay, so that's up on the tree bark and it's a nest of vermites.
I don't think I'm going to step any closer.
Those folks have gathered around this huge big tree.
There's got to be a moment you're like enough isn't enough.
Shush! Oh my god. Now what I see is 10.
That was one wild and itchy night tour in the forest through the botanical kingdom.
I'm glad to witness how biodiversity truly comes alive at night.
But let's not forget, our quest to find wild Asian elephants tides directly into the bigger picture of conservation.
Since all of China's wild Asian elephants live here in Yunnan, resolving human elephant conflict is essential.
Up next, we tap into the locals hard one wisdom on peacefully cohabiting with their elephant counterparts.
Knowledge that may well boost my chances of crossing paths with the trunk swinging titans.
I'm Ha Young, we'll be back.
This is Round Table. So now we have to cross a stream to go searching for the wild elephants.
And this is the only way into the mountains.
And there's no bridge. There is this makeshift quote unquote small bridge that connects one shore to the other.
And it's sort of wrapped up together in a really instantaneous matter using four pretty thick bamboo's.
This is the only way through.
I have to admit, I am very nervous.
Okay, here we go. Tianna, I am doing this.
I am actually doing this.
Okay, I am on this makeshift bridge.
Thank you so much. This is really slippery.
Have a nice gentleman help me a little bit.
I'm halfway through. Thank you.
I am finally over. Let me make room for other people.
You're listening to Round Table.
I'm Ha Young. The elephant rangers in Mengluan Town, Mengla County, Sichuan Banah Die Prefecture, in Yunnan province, informed me that a herd of 42 wild elephants from the nearby natural reserve wandered out at the forest early in the morning.
So I took a three hour coach ride from Jinghong City, then hopped on a bumpy tricycle into the mountains and crossed a makeshift bamboo raft bridge.
Now I know I'm hot on the trail of the wild Asian elephants.
Tonight we've seen their footprint, we've seen huge brown round things.
At first I thought they were kind of like medium sized coconuts, but apparently they are the fecal matter left behind by the wild elephants.
And what is this smell? It's potent, it's raw, you can tell this comes from an animal and not a human being.
I can't really tell you how I have learned to discern.
And according to our elephant expert and guide, when you smell this, you know an elephant is nearby.
Or it has left this behind for us to appreciate the next day.
You can tell the content that this elephant has eaten a lot of grass.
Also I can see a little bits of corn in it.
Apparently with elephant poop, this is an important part of the ecosystem.
And if this was really out in the wild of a tropical forest, then flies and other kinds of insects or maybe small animals could be feeding on.
Elephant poop. But here this is farmland.
So there's a lack of so many different kinds of insects and animals.
Apparently with elephants, they only manage to digest 40% of the stuff that they've eaten.
And here's what you got, the 40% of what this wild Asian elephant has had for meals the previous day.
The Asian wild elephants, they are hiding in the forest because during really dry days, they do need to get water.
And therefore they will come out of the woods and make sure to get a refill kind of thing.
And also if they play around in the rivers and streams and take a mud bath, those kind of things.
But today it is pretty damp.
Therefore they're probably just resting comfortably in the forest around here.
And what else did I find out?
These elephants are kind of like night owls.
They're certainly not early birds.
They come out. A lot of the times during dusk and really enjoy their time out and about in nighttime.
And then they go back into the woods for rest in the later part of the night.
So yeah, at this time of the day, we would need to be extra fortunate to see them.
So that's what I've got so far.
As I raced to rejoin the tracking team, my mind flooded with questions.
How did the locals co-exist with such frequent elephant encounters?
What do you do when the fruits of their labor could easily be trampled and eaten by elephants?
What strategies have they employed to keep both humans and animals safe when their worlds inevitably collide?
It's been well reported that human elephant conflict is widespread across Asian and African elephant ranges.
Resulting in loss of life for both humans and elephants, crop and property damage, and declining elephant populations due to habitat loss and even retaliation killings.
Against all odds, Sichuan Banan Yunnan Province has managed to buck the global trend of escalating human elephant conflicts.
Despite elephant populations nearly doubling since the 1970s, a trend typically associated with more frequent encounters.
This counterintuitive success can be attributed to a multifaceted approach, emphasizing community involvement, habitat conservation, and innovative coexistence strategies.
Ahead, we'll hear directly from those at the heart of it, the Rangers, officials, NGO workers, and local residents who've adapted to sharing their turf with the majestic elephants emerging from Yunnan's forests.
Pung Jin Fu, a dedicated elephant ranger and monitor since 2018, shares light on the multifaceted reasons behind the need to protect these endangered beings.
In China, we only have around 300 Asian elephants left, a nationally protected endangered species.
That's reason one. Reason two is economics.
For example, take a tour in a wild elephant valley.
It's a huge boost to Jinghong's GDP every year.
Three, elephants hold cultural significance for the Dai ethnic group.
View them as sacred beings.
We need to factoring this cultural aspect too.
Is it merely a growth in population numbers that have driven the increasingly frequent encounters?
Let's hear from Chen Meng, Deputy Director of the Mengla County Nature Reserve Administration Bureau, on the factors behind these rising human elephant interactions.
The elephant population is thriving, so their activity range is increasing, overlapping more and more with our human spaces.
And we've in effect put out a buffet for them.
With all the core bananas and other crops our farmers have cultivated.
Our forest protection efforts have been a success too, eliminating threats to elephant habitat.
With elephants emboldened by rising numbers, abundant food sources, and secure habitats, conflicts are seemingly inevitable.
But stakeholders haven't been idle spectators.
A whole slew of innovative measures have been put in place to encourage peaceful coexistence.
Deputy Director Chen Meng explains some of these strategies.
We've assembled a 16 person squad using drone technology for real-time monitoring of the Asian elephant herd.
Eyes in the sky tracking their every move.
We pioneered wildlife damage insurance in 2010 in Qishuan Banan.
Local governments find a 30 million yuan that's about 4 million US dollars annual pool.
Evanimals injure people or damaged property in the area.
Locals get compensated from this pool.
It's been a game changer for coexisting with wildlife.
But tech alert and monitor, plus financial compensation, are just part of the solution.
Empowering local communities has been equally crucial as Machin Yue from International Fund for Animal Welfare or IFA China explains.
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African continent on the African continent on the African as I drift off to sleep, lulled by the distant rumblings of the insects.
I'm reminded of the importance of preserving these incredible ecosystems and the animals that call them home is a privilege to be here and I hope that our presence can inspire others to join us in our efforts to protect and conserve the natural beauty of our world.
So, as we bed the wild elephant valley a peaceful good night.
I want to leave you with a sense of wonder and awe for the incredible sights and experiences we've shared today and who knows, maybe someday we'll return to this enchanting place and the elephants will welcome us back with open trucks.
As I packed up my rock sack the next morning I still held onto the hope of catching just one glimpse of the wild elephants but alas they remained hidden turns out wild elephants don't take appointment bookings but my perspective on protecting nature's marvels has forever changed after this journey through sea shone by nature's marvels.
Witnessing its incredible biodiversity first hand from the vibrant bird life to the knowledge that herds of elephants still roam these ancient forests as a woken in me a fierce determination to raise awareness and inspire action to conserve such ecological treasures.
That's all for today's wildlife journey on roundtable but our fight to protect nature goes on.
I'm Ha Young and I hope you'll join me in this mission.
You can find us on Apple Podcast at roundtable china.
