Villagers kill six wild elephants

Villagers kill six wild elephants

JAKARTA: Six wild elephants were poisoned and died on Sumatra island after the endangered animals encroached on a palm oil plantation, police said on Monday.

The killing of elephants as well as endangered tigers is commonplace on the island, where illegal logging and farming have reduced their natural habitat and increased clashes with humans.

The elephants were found dead near Rokan Hulu forest in Riau province, about 1,050 kilometers northwest of Jakarta. Plantation workers admitted to killing them with rat poison.

"The wild elephants have become a big problem for us and we had no other choice than to poison them so we could secure the plantation," said Lindung Nasution, one of the workers.

Police are investigating the deaths. No arrests have been made so far. -- AP