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)