Indonesia: Fourteen herds of elephants in search of food in Aceh

Rahmad Nasution Antara 20 Feb 19;

Lhokseumawe, N Aceh, (ANTARA News)- At least 14 herds of wild Sumatran elephants have been wandering in search of food in the areas of districts such as Tamiang, Pidie, Central Aceh, Bener Meriah, and Biruen, a conservationist said.

According to the Head of the Lhokseumawe Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Dedi Irvansyah, here on Tuesday evening, around four up to five herds were found wandering around the forest areas of East Aceh and Tamiang Districts.

In North Aceh District, there were three herds of these herbivorous animals, while in the districts of Central Aceh, Bener Meriah, and Bireun, about four herds of wild elephants were also observed, he stated.

Meanwhile, in Pidie Jaya and Pidie Districts, two herds were reportedly observed, he noted, adding that each of the herds consisted of 15 to 20 wild animals.

Three herds of wild Sumatran elephants were also found wandering in search of food in the areas of North Aceh District`s Cot Girek, Matangkuli, and Langkahan Subdistricts.

One of the elephants, identified as Rita, has been fitted with a GPS collar device to track it easily, he remarked.

The elephants have ravaged local residents` agricultural lands, Irvansyah quoted the people`s reports as saying.

"Maybe, inside the herd, the female elephant would have been fitted with the tracking device, and there may be other female mature elephants that have separated from their main herd. These animals then form a new herd, which is likely related to their efforts to search for food," he explained.

The wild Sumatran elephants in Aceh Province have again attracted public attention after a herd of these jumbo animals recently went on a rampage in Negeri Antara Village, Pintu Rimbee Sub-district, Bener Meriah District.

The wild elephants not only ravaged local farmers` agricultural lands but also attacked a trained elephant named Ida on Feb 11, 2019. As a result, the 40-year-old elephant`s legs were wounded.

Reporting by Mukhlis
Editing by Rahmad Nasution

Editor: Suharto