-- Fifteen wild Asian elephants have wandered far and wide trekking about 500 km to the outskirts of Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, probably one of the longest journeys ever recorded for such a herd in China.

-- Over the years, the wild giant mammals frequently leave their protected areas and intrude the nearby villages, which is viewed by some experts as a result of the degradation of their original habitats as well as changes in dietary habits of the species.

-- Experts have noted that the environment is more unsuitable for the Asian elephants to survive as they migrate farther north.

by Xinhua writers Zhao Jiasong and Yao Yulin

KUNMING, June 19 -- A herd of 15 wild Asian elephants that have captured global attention continue to enjoy their trek in southwest China unperturbed.

It has been 15 months since the herd bid farewell to their original habitat in a nature reserve in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province.

To date, the elephants have wandered far and wide trekking about 500 km to the outskirts of the provincial capital Kunming -- probably one of the longest journeys ever recorded for a herd of elephants in the country.

Everyone keeps a close tab on them, including their guardians back home. The reason they left their leafy habitat, where lush forests seem to touch the sky, remains an enigma.