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)