ID :
32531
Wed, 11/26/2008 - 16:21
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/32531
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WILD ELEPHANTS KILL MAN, DESTROY HOUSE IN ACEH VILLAGE
Banda Aceh, Nov. 26 (ANTARA) - Many residents of a rural village in Aceh Jaya district have fled their homes in fear of a herd of wild elephants that has invaded their area, killed one person and destroyed a farmer's house during the past few days.
The herd which was estimated to consist of 13 animals emerged from a nearby forest and entered the Cot Pengee village area last Friday (Nov 21).
A local community leader, Iskandar Musa, said the villagers tried to drive the animals away with traditional methods like making loud sounds but to no avail. Instead, the elephants became more daring with one of them even given to chasing people on sight.
"The elephants became increasingly aggressive, especially after they had taken a local resident and killed him. He was Muhammad Wahi (30). His dead body was found 30 meters from his home," Musa said, adding the incident happened on Saturday (Nov 22).
The herd also rampaged through hectares of farmland and plantations doing serious damage to crops. On Tuesday (Nov 25) they attacked and obliterated a house belonging to Kechik Din, another Cot Pangee village resident.
There was no casualty in the elephant attack on Din's house because he and his family had moved to another village two days before.
Earlier, Aceh Jaya Deputy District Head Zamzami A. Rani called on the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSAD) of Aceh Province, to deal with the wild elephants.
Because of the elephant attacks, many Cot Pangee residents had become afraid to stay in their homes and decided to evacuate to safer places. But some worried traditional farmers in the village had threatened to poison the elephants if the authorities fail to solve the problem.
The herd which was estimated to consist of 13 animals emerged from a nearby forest and entered the Cot Pengee village area last Friday (Nov 21).
A local community leader, Iskandar Musa, said the villagers tried to drive the animals away with traditional methods like making loud sounds but to no avail. Instead, the elephants became more daring with one of them even given to chasing people on sight.
"The elephants became increasingly aggressive, especially after they had taken a local resident and killed him. He was Muhammad Wahi (30). His dead body was found 30 meters from his home," Musa said, adding the incident happened on Saturday (Nov 22).
The herd also rampaged through hectares of farmland and plantations doing serious damage to crops. On Tuesday (Nov 25) they attacked and obliterated a house belonging to Kechik Din, another Cot Pangee village resident.
There was no casualty in the elephant attack on Din's house because he and his family had moved to another village two days before.
Earlier, Aceh Jaya Deputy District Head Zamzami A. Rani called on the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSAD) of Aceh Province, to deal with the wild elephants.
Because of the elephant attacks, many Cot Pangee residents had become afraid to stay in their homes and decided to evacuate to safer places. But some worried traditional farmers in the village had threatened to poison the elephants if the authorities fail to solve the problem.
