Elephant caught while taking stroll

Elephant caught while taking stroll

PEKANBARU, Riau: A wild elephant strolling in the southwest of
the town was caught by tamers from the Natural Resource
Conservation Agency Sunday, a report said yesterday.

Agency officials called in tamers and two elephant trainers to
catch the big beast which local residents had spotted in the area
several days earlier.

Agency chief Susilo Legowo said the presence of the wild
animal in the residential area sparked panic among local
residents. He said the elephant got lost after it was separated
from its group.

The incident is not the first to occur in the town. Several
years ago, a herd of elephants which lost their way encroached on
residential areas.

Environmentalists say elephants in Sumatra's jungles are
losing their habitat due to development projects.

Susilo said the provincial government has planned to catch 20
elephants and send them to the Sebanga elephant training center
this year, Antara reported.