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