Malaysia: Villagers living in fear of jumbos

New Straits Times 21 Sep 12;

BALING: Fear surrounds more than 60 families from Kampung Padang, Rambong, Batu 7, near here, after a group of wild elephants struck at their village for the past week.

The villagers claimed that although the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) had gone to the area to see the damage done by the animals, they failed to take any action to drive the elephants back into the jungle.

A survey by Bernama found that the villagers had reason to worry as the elephants destroyed banana trees located less than 50 metres behind a villager's house. More than 50 banana, coconut, rumbia and arecanut trees were destroyed.

A resident, Omar Mat Rejab, 60, said he and his family were worried about the elephants that frequently roamed behind his house and uprooted several banana trees.

Several days earlier, he had seen elephants within 200 metres of his house, but two nights ago the animals seemed more violent.

Bayu assemblyman Datuk Azmi Che Husain urged Perhilitan to drive the elephants back to the jungle.