Wild elephants haunts villagers

BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: The west Lampung regency wants to catch wild elephants that often go on the rampage in the area because they endanger residents.

The regency has asked the conservation agency to catch and tame the wild beasts, which have made many farmers sleepless, fearing the animals will trample their crops.

"The conservation agency has the most authority in handling the elephants," the west Lampung regent, H.S. Umpusinga, said over the weekend.

The wild elephants, believed to come from the nearby South Bukit Barisan National Park, have trampled two residents to death, wrecked dozens of houses and destroyed more than 100 hectares of crops over the past several months.

Umpusinga said the elephants should be caught and sent to the elephant training center in Way Kambas in Central Lampung, Antara reported. (pan)