WILD ELEPHANTS TERRORIZE LUMBOK RESIDENTS, W LAMPUNG

Liwa, W Lampung, March 30 (ANTARA) - Two wild elephants have forced Lumbok villagers in Sukau sub-district, West Lampung district to be on constant alert over the past three days.

"We had to remain on constant alert after the two wild elephants entered our neighborhood in the last three days," Madin, a Lumbok resident, said here Tuesday.

Local residents were afraid of the wild elephants' coming to destroy their houses, rice fields and other crops. Therefore, they stayed on alert by organizing neighborhood watch, he said.

They were prepared to drive he animals away equipped only with torches and by making loud noisess , Madin said.

"We activate our night neighborhood watch, but hope the local government will help us chase away these giant animals by providing us with modern equipment," he said.

Lumbok village was vulnerable to the wild elephants' infiltration in West Lampung regency, he said.

Another resident, Yana Fitia, said the elephants always came at night so that the villagers felt they were being terrorized.

"We cannot even sleep tight anymore," she said.

The conflict between people and elephants, like in West Lampung district , also took place in other parts of Sumatra.

In Bengkalis, Riau Province, for instance, a number of wild elephants had recently destroyed three houses in Petani village, Mandau sub-district.

While there were no fatalities, the wild elephants' attacks had caused local residents to panic and take refuge to safer places.

The wild elephants did not only destroy three houses but also the trampelled the crops of the villagers.