International help sought to solve elephant problem<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Environment Sarwono
\nKusumaatmadja called for international cooperation yesterday to
\nhelp solve the problem of rampaging elephants in Sumatra.<\/p>\n
During a session with the Commision X members in the House of
\nRepresentatives, who deal with environmental issues, Sarwono
\nspoke of the international nature of the problem and asked for an
\noutside helping hand.<\/p>\n
Thousands of elephants roam Sumatra, often flattening any
\nfarms or plantations in their path. The size or their natural
\nhabitats is dwindling from local development and the elephants
\nare now encroaching upon residential areas. \"There should be an
\ninternational initiative to address the matter,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sarwono's comment was the latest contribution to the ongoing
\ndebate over what Indonesia can do to stop the elephant raids
\nagainst villages.<\/p>\n
Elephants are a protected species by Indonesian law.<\/p>\n
Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo's recent
\nproposal to reduce their numbers by shooting the beasts has met
\nstrong opposition from environmentalists.<\/p>\n
Last week, Minister of Forestry Djamaloedin Soeryohadikoesoemo
\nproposed that the elephants be tamed and trained to transport
\nheavy goods, such as logs.<\/p>\n
Officials have also considered exporting elephants, which have
\nkilled at least 14 people in Sumatra since 1989. In Sumatra, the
\nnumber of elephants is estimated at 4,000, where they freely roam
\nthe jungles of Aceh, Riau, Jambi and southern Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The government has established elephant training centers in
\nAceh and Lampung but they can accommodate only a small number of
\nthem at a time.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said the elephants had rapidly multiplied since their
\nprotection by law several years ago.<\/p>\n
The animals often run amok in residential areas when they are
\nno longer able to retrace the tracks established and passed down
\nfrom generation to generation. During this same time, many of
\ntheir former habitats have been turned into plantations.<\/p>\n
The latest incident, as reported by Antara yesterday, involved
\nhundreds of elephants destroying several hectares of sugarcane
\nand banana plantations in south Sumatra on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Lawsuit<\/p>\n
Addressing environmental issues, Sarwono said the government
\nis considering filing a law suit against PT Surya Agung Kertas, a
\npaper company based in Surabaya, for polluting the Surabaya
\nRiver.<\/p>\n
The plant, which produces 270,000 tons of paper a year, has
\nbeen dumping its waste in the river without proper treatment as
\nrequired by law.<\/p>\n
He said the pollution was so heavy that it prompted PT Miwon,
\na food seasoning manufacturing company, to consider relocating
\ntheir water intake to somewhere upstream from the paper plant.
\nTheir attempt, however, was thwarted by the local government.<\/p>\n
\"The (paper) plant has signed a statement promising to control
\nindustrial waste and the government has been closely watching its
\nwaste disposal,\" he said. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/international-help-sought-to-solve-elephant-problem-1447893297",
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