ID :
22357
Fri, 10/03/2008 - 08:55
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/22357
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WILD ELEPHANTS STILL THREATENING TWO VILLAGES IN SOUTH ACEH
Tapaktuan, Sept 02 (ANTARA) - A herd of wild Sumatran elephants (Elephantis maximus sumatranus) which recently destroyed crops on plantations of residents of Jambo Dalem and Pinto Romba villages in South Aceh district are reported to be still roaming near the villages.
"Estimated to consist of six adult elephants, the herd is still often seen near Jambo Dalem and Pinto Rimba villages," said East Trumon sub district chief H Lahmuddin here Thursday.
The herd several days ago rampaged on tens of hectares of oil palm, banana , coconut plantations and rice fields and caused so much damage that farmers were now expecting failed harvests.
Over the past two months, wild elephant encroachments on people's plantations at the edges of Trumon forests had happened with increasing frequency, Lahamudin said.
He said the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and the Leuser International Foundation (YLI) should act to overcome the problem soon.
"People have tried to drive away the animals by traditional methods such as making fireballs and fireworks but they proved ineffective as the animals kept bothering the villagers," he said.
He said the endangered species had not only ruined people's plantations but also destroyed a farmer's shack and were often pursuing humans they encounter.
Lahmuddin said the Trumon sub district administration had already sent a written report on the wild elephant problem to the South Aceh district authorities and BKSDA in Tapaktuan but until now it was not known what they would do solve it.
"Estimated to consist of six adult elephants, the herd is still often seen near Jambo Dalem and Pinto Rimba villages," said East Trumon sub district chief H Lahmuddin here Thursday.
The herd several days ago rampaged on tens of hectares of oil palm, banana , coconut plantations and rice fields and caused so much damage that farmers were now expecting failed harvests.
Over the past two months, wild elephant encroachments on people's plantations at the edges of Trumon forests had happened with increasing frequency, Lahamudin said.
He said the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and the Leuser International Foundation (YLI) should act to overcome the problem soon.
"People have tried to drive away the animals by traditional methods such as making fireballs and fireworks but they proved ineffective as the animals kept bothering the villagers," he said.
He said the endangered species had not only ruined people's plantations but also destroyed a farmer's shack and were often pursuing humans they encounter.
Lahmuddin said the Trumon sub district administration had already sent a written report on the wild elephant problem to the South Aceh district authorities and BKSDA in Tapaktuan but until now it was not known what they would do solve it.
