Elephants protect forests<\/p>\n
BENGKULU, Bengkulu: The provincial nature conservation agency has
\nformed a team of officials and elephants to safeguard protected
\nforests against illegal logging.<\/p>\n
\"The team consists of forest rangers and is assisted by 28
\ntrained elephants,\" said agency head Agus Priambudi on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
He said that using elephants helped the forest rangers patrol
\nand safeguard the 252,042 hectares of protected forests in
\nBengkulu.<\/p>\n
The agency began using the elephants last year on a trial
\nbasis. The animals underwent training at the province's elephant
\ntraining center in North Bengkulu regency.<\/p>\n
\"The results from employing elephants are quite satisfactory,\"
\nAgus said, noting a drop in illegal logging. \"As a follow up we
\nestablished this special team,\" he added.<\/p>\n
He said the elephants were trained to identify the sound of
\nchain saws and machines used by illegal loggers. Once they hear
\nthe sound, the elephants approach the area from where the sound
\ncame. Most of the time illegal loggers run away when they see an
\nelephant coming straight at them, Agus said. -- Antara<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/elephants-protect-forests-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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