Animals search for food in villages

Animals search for food in villages

PEKANBARU, Riau: Forest fires have forced tigers and elephants
to escape to villages in Riau in search of food, according to
Dharminto Soetono, the head of the provincial forestry service.

Antara quoted the official as saying Monday that the wild
beasts pose a real threat to the local people. He added that a
resident of Sotol village, Langgam subdistrict, Kampar district
was mauled to death by a tiger while collecting resin in his
estate.

Tigers and elephants have also gone on a rampage in Kerintang
subdistrict in Indragiri Hilir district, Siberida subdistrict in
Indragiri Hulu district and Langgam, Kampar, he said.

Dharminto said his office had set up a special task force to
drive the tigers and the elephants back to their abode. (swe)