A Herd Of Wild Elephants Destroys Oil Palm Plantations In Aceh Jaya

Documentation - A herd of wild Sumatran elephants is in a resident's garden in Negeri Antara Village, Pintu Rime District, Bener Meriah Regency, Aceh. (ANTARA PHOTO/Irwansyah Putra)

BANDA ACEH - A herd of wild elephants ransacked the replanting area in Alue Rubek Gampong Gunong Buloh, Panga District, Aceh Jaya Regency.

"The elephant arrived about two days ago. Currently, the herd of wild elephants is still at the replanting area," said a resident, Minal Khairi in Calang, Aceh Jaya, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, August 25.

He explained that the wild elephants disturbed the land ready for planting and the seeds that had been planted, with an estimate that elephants damaged nearly half of the existing 289 hectares of land.

"The land here is indeed extensive, for the land itself there is an area of 289 hectares and it is estimated that almost half are disturbed by elephants," he said.

Minal Khairi said that for now the team from BKSDA and Ranger are also at the location trying to drive the wild elephants out of the replanting area.

Previously, the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) stated that elephant-human conflicts in a number of areas in Aceh Province occurred almost every day.

The Head of the Conservation Section for Region I BKSDA Aceh Kamarudzaman said the elephant conflict occurred because the habitat of the protected animal was disturbed and damaged.

"Conflict or disturbance of elephants against humans occurs almost every day in Aceh. This happens because the forest area which is the habitat of protected wildlife has been damaged or disturbed and has changed its function," said Kamarudzaman.

He said the elephant population in Aceh Province was estimated at 500 to 600 individuals. Areas where elephant-human conflicts often occur include Pidie District, Bener Meriah District and East Aceh District.