The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 06/07/2010 9:54 AM |
JAKARTA: Rampaging wild elephants forced dozens of families to flee their homes in Madau subdistrict, Bengkalis regency, Riau.
Rianto, one of the affected farmers, said that most of the families lived along the traditional paths of the elephants.
“They left their homes three days ago after a herd of elephants trampled a farmer to death,” Rianto told Antara.
Rianto identified the victim as a 32-year-old man named Suwanto, whose body was found dismembered Thursday.
The farmers, armed with bamboo drums and torches, tried in vain to scare off a band of 18 elephants that had devoured their oil palm crops.
The natural habitant of elephants in Indonesia is under threat. Elephants are considered endangered animals that are protected by law.
The farmers are now staying with relatives who live outside of the beasts’ paths, Rianto said. — JP
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