Raiding elephants force residents out

Raiding elephants force residents out

OGAN KOMERING ULU: The entire population of a village in South Sumatra province has fled in fear of nightly raids by a herd of wild elephants, which have damaged homes and fields, it was reported Wednesday.

The 11 elephants, led by a large long-tusked male, have been raiding Padang Lais village since Aug. 18, laying waste to plantations and fields and wrecking about 50 houses, the state Antara news agency said.

The 200 families living in Padang Lais, on the edge of a forest in Ogan Komering Ulu district, have fled to other villages while they wait for the government to drive out the animals, the agency said quoting a local military officer.

Soldiers have tried to push the animals back into the jungle but were unable to track the herd during the day, Second Lt. Surasa said.

South Sumatra Governor Syahrial Oesman instructed the district chief to provide relief aid for the refugees and send experts to catch the elephants, a protected species in Indonesia, Antara said.

Wild elephants still roam the jungles of several Sumatran provinces. There are increasing reports that they are damaging human settlements and plantations on the edge of forests.

Conservationists said the animals were forced to forage in areas occupied by people because their habitat was being taken over by human settlements, plantations and timber estates. -- AFP