The elephants repeatedly wander into human habitats in the subdistrict in search of foodBanda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA) - A human-animal conflict continues in the areas of Bener Meriah District, Aceh Province with a herd of wild Sumatran elephants destroying four houses in Pantanlah Village, Pintu Rime Gayo Subdistrict, Tuesday. The houses belong to Miswar, Agus, Ahmad, and Sulaiman, all residents of Pantalah Village, Head of Pintu Rime Gayo Subdistrict Edi Irwansyah Putra said here Wednesday.
While no deaths were reported in the incident the elephants damaged the agricultural lands of the villagers.
The elephants repeatedly wander into human habitats in the subdistrict in search of food, Putra said. "Therefore, the villagers have been asked to remain alert and cautious with this ongoing human-elephant conflict to avoid fatalities," he said.
To ease the burden of villagers whose houses had been destroyed by the wild elephants, Secretary of Bener Meriah District Administration's Social Affairs Office Saidi Nurdin said packages of staple food and clothes had been distributed.
Bener Meriah is one of the districts in Aceh Province, which is vulnerable to the impact of human-elephant conflicts.
In February, a herd of wild Sumatran elephants in Aceh Province went on the rampage in Negeri Antara Village, Pintu Rimbee Subdistrict.
The wild elephants not only ravaged the agricultural lands but also attacked and injured a 40-year-old trained elephant named Ida on February 11, 2019.
Also in February, at least 14 herds of wild Sumatran elephants wandered in search of food into the districts of Tamiang, Pidie, Central Aceh, Bener Meriah, and Biruen.
Around four up to five herds were found wandering around the forest areas of East Aceh and Tamiang Districts, according to the Head of the Lhokseumawe Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Dedi Irvansyah.
In North Aceh District, there were three herds of these herbivorous animals, while in the districts of Central Aceh, Bener Meriah, and Bireun, some four herds of wild elephants were also observed, he stated.
In Pidie Jaya and Pidie Districts, two herds consisting of 15 to 20 wild animals each, were reportedly spotted.
Three herds of wild Sumatran elephants were found wandering in search of food in the areas of North Aceh District's Cot Girek, Matangkuli, and Langkahan Subdistricts. (INE)
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Khalis Surry, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
