Wild elephants in southwest China's Yunnan Province have killed two villagers recently.

A 71-year-old villager surnamed Zhu of Nanlanghe Village was attacked and killed by wild Asian elephants near his vegetable shed at round 5:30 a.m. on Sunday in Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, said the prefectural publicity department on Sunday.

The accident was reported to authorities after Zhu's fellow villager found his body and signs of wild elephant activity two hours later.

The local government has tightened management of wild Asian elephants and warned local villagers to stay alert.

The accident happened one week after another wild elephant killed a villager in the same county. On May 14, 37-year-old Mu was found dead near his shed, probably victim of an attack from a wild Asian elephant.

Wild Asian elephants are under state protection in China, with about 300 living mainly in Yunnan Province. Enhanced protection for wild animals has seen the mammals' numbers rise in recent years, but cases of clashes with humans have also increased, according to the local government.