Trained elephants in poor condition

Trained elephants in poor condition

MESUJI, Lampung: The lives of two domesticated elephants, which have been trained to plough rice fields, are in danger because of poor care by farmers.

Both elephants have been used in a pilot project, in Brabasan village, Perwakilan Tajungraya district, in northern Lampung since 1993.

Saleh Mulyono, the head of Perwakilan Tanjungraya district, said the maintenance of the two animals is so poor because it is dependent on the income of their owners who sell the ploughing service to local farmers.

"But the fee is based on voluntary contributions," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

The news agency reported that the two elephants' health is poor and both are very thin. The budget of the pilot project is running out, Saleh said.

Their maintenance costs between Rp 7,500 ($3.19) and Rp 10,000 ($4.26) per day, and this does not include the tamer's monthly salary of Rp 40,000, he said. (16)