Export of elephants suggested

BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: Local farmers, complaining of frequent raids on their land by herds of wild elephants, are calling on the government to export the animals, which have become a pest, Antara reported yesterday.

"We can't kill the elephants because there are laws to protect them, despite the fact that they destroy our land and even kill people," a farmer said.

The locals said the elephant population has been increasing and they have been spreading. "They're fat, so they'd be good for export," farmer Irsan said.

The farmers also said they could not keep the elephants off their land. "They're no longer afraid if we try to chase them away with noise or torches. We can only escape when they come on their raids," said one man.

There are about 1,000 elephants in Lampung's forests. (swe)