Elephant raids worsen in Aceh

BANDA ACEH: The provincial conservation office plans to dispatch a special team to northern Aceh to protect locals from rampaging elephants in the area.

A group of wild Sumatran elephants had destroyed villagers' crops and oil palm plantations and attacked houses, huts and mosques in the Simpang Keuramat district, Antara reported Monday.

Office head Andi Basrul said the incidence of elephant raids in the area had been on the rise during the past few months.

""The team will bring along trained elephants to repel the wild beasts,"" he said.

The protected elephants also infrequently encroach in other residential areas in the province.

""The elephants destroyed crops which were ready for harvest,"" Andi said. -- JP