Elephants kill 12 every year

BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: Eight to 12 people fall victim each year from elephant attacks in the region, head of the local forestry office says.

A.S.M. Panjaitan was quoted by Antara as saying that the attacks were caused by the elephants' declining habitat which is due to deforestation.

There are currently some 800 elephants in the region. They multiply by 50-100 each year.

Zoos are reluctant to accept more elephants due to limited space, Panjaitan said, and the only way to overcome the problem is by domesticating them through training in the elephant training centers and using them for farming or transportation. (pwn)