Rice And Pinang Damaged By Elephant Herds, Farmers In Aceh Jaya Start Guarding Rice Fields Every Night With Mercons

Nut plants, residents of Gunong Buloh Village, Panga District, Aceh Jaya Regency, were destroyed by wild elephants, in Aceh Jaya, Monday (06/3/2023) (ANTARA/HO)

ACEH - A number of wild elephants have again damaged rice plants and young betel nut trees belonging to residents in Gunong Buloh Village, Panga District, Aceh Jaya Regency since last Friday. "There are approximately half a hectares of our rice plants trampled on by wild elephants, while theca nut trees are also almost eaten," said one farmer in Gunong Buloh Village, Musliadi in Aceh Jaya, Antara, Monday, March 6. Musliadi said that he and other colleagues had started going to the fields at night, preventing the wild elephants from entering their rice plants. "We have also reported it to the BKSDA and they provided fireworks for us, but we don't think it's enough to get rid of the elephant with firecrackers," he said. Musliadi said that the wild elephants that damaged rice and beinang plants were estimated to be around nine heads, coming in groups. Residents also hope that there will be concern from the local government for the destruction of community rice plants due to the wild elephants, so that they can help the burden of local rice farmers. "We really hope for attention from the government, especially the BKSDA so that the herd of elephants can return to their habitat so that we can farm again in peace," said Musliadi. Meanwhile, the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) stated that it continues to do everything possible to herd the wild elephant. "We will immediately deal with the conflicts of wild elephants as soon as possible as possible as a result of reports from the public throughout Aceh, especially in Aceh Jaya," said Head of PLG BKSDA Aceh Andi Aswinsyah. Andi added that over the past month they had received several reports, and a number of cases of which were in the same location and had been handled, but the wild elephants always returned after the expulsion.