More than 150,000 people have been evacuated from areas used as routes by a group of migrating elephants, Chinese officials have said.
Authorities in the southwestern province of Yunnan feared a dispute between residents and 14 Asian elephants who have been traveling for months.
More than 25,000 police officers use cars and drones and have been monitoring the herd, the state-run news agency reported.
The protected animals left their reserve in Yunnan about 17 months ago.
Since then they have hit the headlines for their unique 500km (300 miles) journey where they have been passing through farms, towns, and villages eating millions of dollars worth of produce and destroying buildings.
As a herd of elephants approached the settlement, people were temporarily evacuated to prevent conflict as local residents tried to protect their crops and homes.
By June the animals had arrived on the outskirts of the provincial capital Kunming.
Efforts to evacuate and relocate them to Mengyangzi National Park were initially unsuccessful but eventually, the group turned around and started heading home.
Wan Yong, who heads an elephant monitoring team, told a news conference Monday that the group had crossed the Yuanjiang River and was heading south. Electric fences, bait, and temporary roads have been used to ensure that the animals follow the right path.
By Sunday night the group was about 200km (125 miles) from their reserve, the Associated Press reported.
Experts say it is unclear why the elephants left their normal habitat and began their journey. Some have suggested that the group's inexperienced leader may have lost them while others believe the elephants were looking for a new home.
The Asian elephant is an endangered species. China has only about 300 wild elephants, living - like a nomadic herd.
