Baby elephants born to wandering troupe doing well back on reserve

The two baby elephants born during a north-bound trip from Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve by a troupe of 15 Asian elephants that shot to fame last year as they wandered around southern China, have grown in size from 100 to 300 kilograms, according to Li Chunliang, deputy head of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

"The elephants have all returned to their habitat after traveling more than 1,400 kilometers over the course of 124 days. They are living a leisurely life now," Li told a news conference on Monday.

"The two baby elephants, which have captured peoples' hearts, are able to live healthy lives," he said.

Li added that China has a forest conservation area of 87.6 million hectares, the largest in the world and a grassland area of 264 million hectares, which is second in size globally. It is also one of the 12 countries with the greatest biodiversity in the world, extending to almost every type of ecosystem.