Elephants used to destroy crops

Elephants used to destroy crops

BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: The authorities have used 17 trained elephants to destroy several hectares of coffee plantation cultivated by nomadic farmers on state land.

The coffee plants, in an area bordering the regencies of South, North and West Lampung, were uprooted by the elephants last week in a crackdown on illegal land clearing. The expedition was led by the head of the Lampung provincial forestry office, ASM Panjaitan.

"The coffee trees have to be uprooted to ensure that they will not grow back," the official said, as quoted by Antara. He added that in another area coffee crops had been chopped down but had grown again, drawing the farmers back to harvest the plants.

The government will replace the coffee trees with other cash crops or trees suitable for furniture production.

The month-long operation also involves six horses and 167 people from various government agencies. (pan)