Elephants guard trapped friends

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: About 30 elephants have mounted a guard around two other elephants caught in traps in Lamtamot village, and are blocking any approach by humans, Antara reported yesterday.

The traps were set to catch elephants which had damaged paddy fields in the village, 50 kilometers east of the Aceh provincial capital, Banda Aceh, on the northern tip of Sumatra.

"The elephants are reportedly still holding out near Lamtamot village in two separate groups, with about 15 elephants per group," said Abdul Latief, spokesman for the provincial natural resources preservation office.

The natural habitat of the elephants had been destroyed by humans, causing them to enter populated areas, he added. "Nobody can get near the two trapped elephants because the others are blocking the way," he said. (swe)