Elephants sell well in Lampung

BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: Orders to buy "graduates" of the Way Kambas elephant training center are streaming in, according to a senior local official.

Chief of the provincial forestry office ASM Panjaitan said most orders come from forest concession holders who need the tamed beasts to move logs.

He said the training center, which has become one of Lampung tourist attractions, has sold 30 of its trained elephants.

The training center is currently training more than 100 elephants captured from the Sumatran wilderness. Some will be transferred to various zoos.

"Anyone who we think is able to keep the animals properly can buy them," he said as quoted by Antara.

Panjaitan said that the management of the training center has sold 12 elephants to forest concession holders in Sumatra and Kalimantan, eight to tourism entrepreneurs in Bali. He declined to mention the going price. (pan)