Experts call for wild life conservation amid elephant's rampages

Wildlife experts are calling for efforts to raise awareness for the protection of elephants and other animals, after a wild elephant in western China wandered onto a road and damaged more than two dozen cars.

The elephant, named "Zhusunya" by locals, left a nature reserve last Friday and damaged more than a dozen cars parked along the road.

Another nine cars were damaged during a rampage on Monday.

Local workers say the elephant was probably angry after losing a fight for a mate.

Local police officers have been busy checking the damaged cars and trying to evacuate people from the area.

Tang Zhouxing, a local police officer, says the elephant crushed some vehicles under its massive weight. "This elephant sat its body on the car, and the whole car was shaking and was damaged badly. Now we can see the rear-view mirror of the car was destroyed and can't see the rear part. We will have a look after the elephant leaves. Now the elephant is coming up, so be careful."

A forest police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, has said that along with losing the fight over its mate, the animal may also have been provoked by the increased presence of humans in its habitat around the Spring Festival holiday.

One witness said she saw the elephant walking towards a tourist coach and all people on the coach were frightened by it.

An unnamed tourist from Jilin province recalled the moment when their bus was attacked.

"The elephant came from this road, and walked along the road, hitting several cars then rushed towards our coach. At that moment all of us were sitting in the coach and were very scared. The elephant then focused on our coach and hit the front door of our coach. The elephant crashed the door with its forehead, and bumped the left rear-view mirror near the driver, it's about 90 degrees crooked,"