Elephants flee riot-torn camp

Elephants flee riot-torn camp

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Not only humans, but elephants have been
suffering from years of political tension in Aceh.

Some 31 trained elephants had to be evacuated from the Lhok
Asan Elephant Training Center, in North Aceh regency, in the last
two years to flee the mounting violence.

Coordinator of International Flora and Fauna (FFI), Bambang
Suprayogi, said elephant trainers had already quit the training
center as well.

According to him, 15 of the elephants were sent to the Center
for Prevention of Wild Elephant Disturbance (TPGGL), at the Cut
Nyak Dhien conservation forest in Aceh Besar regency. The
remaining 16 elephants were moved to the TPGGL in Besi Tang in
West Sumatra province, he added.

"Aceh Besar residents often use the trained elephants to drive
away wild elephants which crush their farms," Suprayogi told
Antara. (prb)