One of China’s wandering elephants has finally made it home.

The herd of wild Asian elephants shot to fame last month while going on     1     impressive journey through southwestern China. Since leaving a nature reserve (保护区) last year, they     2     (travel) more than 500 kilometers (310 miles) across the rugged (崎岖的) landscape of Yunnan province, walking free through fields, villages and large towns.

Last week, a lone (单独的) elephant who broke away     3     the herd a month ago     4     (catch) and returned to its home reserve. It had traveled more than 190 kilometers (118 miles) on     5     (it) own, surviving on food     6     (prepare) by local authorities and at times searching villages for food.

Authorities said the 1. 8-ton male had lingered (逗留) near populated areas and posed a risk to public safety, leading to the     7     (decide) to tranquilize (麻醉) it and send it home. Veterinarians (兽医) found no external injuries on the elephant, who walked into the rainforest and took a bath in the river after being released, the Yunnan government said.

Meanwhile, the rest of the herd is still marching on     8     seems to be an endless journey,    9     (close) monitored round-the-clock by dozens of drones (无人机), and hundreds of emergency response personnel and police     10     (officer).

Recently Australia has listed the koala as an endangered species across most of     1     (it) east coast, after a dramatic decline in numbers because     2     land clearing, bushfires, drought, disease and other threats. The federal government has been urged to do more     3     (protect) koalas from rapidly decreasing habitats and climate change.

“This listing adds priority when it comes to the     4     (conserve) of the koala,” Environment Minister said on Friday. She said officials were designing a recovery plan, and land development application would now be assessed for impacts on the species.

Last year, a New South Wales survey found koalas would be extinct there by 2050     5     there was urgent action. It estimated that the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020 had killed 5,000 koalas and affected 24% of habitats in New South Wales alone.

“Koalas have gone from no-listing to vulnerable (易危物种) to endangered within a decade. That is a     6     (shocking) fast decline,” said a scientist. “Today’s decision is welcome, but it won’t stop koalas     7     (slide) towards extinction unless it     8     (accompany) by stronger laws.”

Scientists warn that climate change will also     9     (worse) bushfires and drought, and reduce     10     quality of koalas’ eucalyptus (桉树) leaf diet.

Koalas are also found in South Australia and Victoria but their numbers are on the decrease nationally, according to protection groups.