Elephants run amok

Elephants run amok

PEKANBARU, Riau: Dozens of wild elephants have ran amok
several times over the past few weeks and destroyed thousands of
rubber trees in the Sumatran village of Bangkinang in Riau, a
rubber planter said here Friday.

A herd of about 40 elephants scared farmers away from tapping
the rubber trees, the farmer said.

Said Abdurrachman, the head of the population and environment
bureau of Riau administration, blamed the rampages on the fact
that the elephants had been forced out of their habitat.

The Koto Panjang area, previously known as the habitat of
elephants, has been developed into a hydropower plant. Some
elephants had been sent to elephant training schools, Said said.

"The rampaging elephants were probably those left behind," he
said. (swe)