KUNMING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- A group of more than 50 wild Asian elephants have been spotted in a nature reserve in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

Of the elephant group, seven were cubs, with the youngest only about two-weeks old, according to a wild Asian elephant observing group based in the Wild Elephant Valley in Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve.

They were spotted Saturday in the valley, which boasts sufficient water and plants and is a natural passage for a variety of animals.

Adult Asian elephants have just entered mating season and their peak period for births. Wild Asian elephants are often spotted there, but it is rare to see them in such large numbers, according to the group.

Wild Asian elephants, with a population of about 300 in China, are under Class A protection. In China, they are mainly scattered in Yunnan.

With stronger environmental and wildlife protection efforts, the number of wild Asian elephants in China has grown in recent years.