Jakarta Post 16 Jul 10;
BANDA ACEH: Herds of wild elephants are on a rampage in Aceh's Pidie regency, devouring crops and destroying houses, residents said Thursday.
"At least one house and four hectares of food crops were destroyed in the past three days," Muhammad Sabi Basyah, a resident, told Antara news agency.
The wooden house that the elephants destroyed belonged to Syawali Hanafiahin in Bangkeh hamlet, forcing him to stay with a relative at a neighboring village, Sabi Basyah said.
This recent incident has scared off farmers, with many of them choosing to stay away from their farms.
They called on the Natural Resources Conservation Agency to build a conservation and rescue center to control the elephants in the area. - JP
Senior citizen killed by wild elephants
Antara 16 Jul 10;
Pekanbaru, Riau province (ANTARA News) - A senior citizen aged 63 years old, Marsini, was found dead on Thursday (July 15) in Bengkalis district, Riau province, after being attacked by wild elephants.
"According to information we`ve received, Marsini was attacked by more than one elephant," chief of Riau province`s Conservation and Natural Resources Board, Trisnu Danisworo, said here on Friday.
The tragic accident happened when Marsini who was walking around a palm oil plantation near her house met a group of wild elephants which were crossing the area.
"That location is actually part of wild elephant`s habitat. There are 40 elephants there.
But now their habitat is damaged due to the shifting function of the area into palm oil plantation," he said.
Marsini`s husband, Purwo, was the first person who found her body. At the time she was found, Marsini`s chest and back part were crushed with her arms and legs were broken.
Wild elephants attacking local people often happens in Bengkalis district during this year. Last June, a herd of wild elephants attacked Petani village, Mandau sub-district, Riau district of Bengkalis, damaging four houses over the weekend.
Several Petani villager told ANTARA News that the elephants attacked their village twice. One of the four houses was in serious damage.
These wild animals had also killed a local resident recently, they said.
The villagers, whose houses were damaged, took refuge to their relatives` houses and neighbors.
Budi, 40, one of the villagers whose house was damaged, said at least 25 families had taken refuge for security reasons.
"The elephants` anger has made us trauma. Some locals who take refuge leave their plantations behind," he said.
Dewi, another villager, urged local government to take concern actions to end the human-elephant conflict.
The conflict itself had not only caused the villagers to suffer material losses but had also threatened human life, the 34-year-old villager said.
"The conservation rangers have been trying to deal with these wild elephants but it is not easy to tame them. In fact, the elephants keep damaging our houses and farmings," she said.
