Unruly elephants to attend school

Unruly elephants to attend school

BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: The provincial government has acquired
Rp 700 million (US$340,000) to catch and tame 80 wild jungle
elephants.

The animals will be sent to the elephant school in Way Kambas
where they will be trained to help people move heavy goods, said
A.S.M. Panjaitan, chief of the provincial forestry office.

Panjaitan said the decision was made in response to requests
from residents whose crops were being destroyed by the beasts
protected by law.

The Way Kambas school can accommodate 200 elephants. There are
118 elephants currently undergoing training, Antara reported.

Forestry officials put the number of elephants roaming forests
across Lampung at 1,500. (pan)