Three elephants die in action

Three elephants die in action

BUKIT KEMUNING, Lampung: Three elephants that security authorities used to destroy illegal coffee plantations have died in action, a press reports said yesterday.

It is unclear why the trained animals died but the operation's leader, Subari Effendi, said that the elephants might have been ill before they were brought in to uproot coffee trees planted by semi-nomadic farmers on reserved forests.

The crackdown on illegal plantations involved dozens of people and 17 elephants, which are alumnae of the elephant training center in Way Kambas, Central Lampung.

"The elephants' deaths surprised all of us," Subari told Antara. "We did everything possible to save their lives."

The operation, which started on Feb. 11, has destroyed over 1,000 hectares of coffee plantations and 225 makeshift houses of the farmers. (pan)