Elephants destroy houses in Riau

Sunday, March 7, 2010
Bengkalis, Riau (ANTARA News) - A number of wild elephants destroyed three houses in Petani village, Mandau sub-district, Bengkalis, on Thursday and Friday, local risidents said.

But there were no fatalities in the wild elephants` attacks as the house tenants could escape in time, Poiman, 45, told ANTARA here Saturday.

"We (local residents) have agreed to drive the wild elephants out of the village," he said.
Over the past week, the herbivorous animals have been entering the Petani village area -- home of more than 200 families.

On Friday night, the wild elephants destroyed the villagers` crops and two houses, he said.

The villagers had tried to drive them out by turning on lanterns, burning used tires and firing bamboo canons but failed to expel them.

Instead the animals approached the people, causing them to get panic and run away.
According to another villager, Sonia, 43, the elephants had also damaged crops on five hectares of the locals` farm land and a house on Thursday.

Patris, whose house was seriously damaged by the wild elephants, said the people`s safety was at stake so that 11 families had taken refuge in safer places.

Some of the displaced families moved to their relatives` houses, which were far away from their village, the 40-year-old Patris said.

Besides destroying three houses, the wild elephants also caused minor damage to at least 20 other houses. (*)

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