As we move on from Totoro's cultural relevance with Dai culture, let us turn our attention to the natural world, where Totoro's role as a protector of the forest mirrors the real-life guardians of nature, wild Asian elephants in Yunnan.
In the depths of Yunnan's rainforests, wild Asian elephants are an integral part of the ecosystem. The elephants help in seed dispersal and forest regeneration, keeping the environment in a good condition. They are, however, increasingly threatened by habitat loss and human-elephant conflicts (Hongmao et al., 2002). These threats to their survival echo the fragility of the forest in My NeighborTotoro, where the harmony of nature is endangered.
In order to counter such issues, the Yunnan government has gone to great lengths to protect the elephants, along with their habitats. A prime example of this is the Xishuangbanna Wild Elephant Valley. A sanctuary and research center, the valley is where the elephants are studied and preserved. According to Ba et al. (2023), the valley is home to one of China's largest remaining groups of wild Asian elephants, and conservation efforts are centered on habitat preservation and the creation of safe migration corridors for the elephants. Local governments have also implemented varied measures to mitigate human-elephant conflicts through the building of elephant-proof fences and the implementation of early warning systems to discourage elephants from entering populated areas.
Besides, when the elephants trample crops in the nearby farmlands, the local government provides subsidies to the farmers as compensation (Li et al., 2018). Such financial compensation measures, to put it simply, help reduce tensions between local communities and elephant populations, thereby protecting farmers' livelihoods while also ensuring the survival of these animals. These efforts reflect the continuous work being carried out in Xishuangbanna to promote harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, that is to say, balancing human needs with wildlife conservation.
If Totoro really lived in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, it would likely play a similar role in protecting forests and elephant populations. That is, it would use its mystical powers to prevent the destruction of its habitat while simultaneously reducing tensions between humans and elephants. Just as chinchillas are symbols of forest protection, the actions of the Yunnan government and local people reflect a practical determination to protect endangered species and maintain ecological balance.