Editor's note: The Asian Elephants Breeding and Rescue Center in Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Southwest China's Yunnan province, is the only one of its kind in China. Since its opening in 2008, the center has rescued 12 Asian elephants, with nine still receiving medical care and rehabilitation. All the elephants, either rescued or bred in captivity, undertake training with an adult elephant in virgin forest with the ultimate goal to release them into the wild one day.

Rescued Asian elephant Yangniu plays with a ball in the Asian Elephants Breeding and Rescue Center in Southwest China's Yunnan province on June 5, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]