Kawanan Gajah Liar Kembali Masuk Permukiman Di Suoh Lampung Barat

Illustration - A herd of wild elephants (ANTARA/HO/Residents)

A number of wild elephants re-entered the settlement and damaged plantation land owned by residents in Talang Daiyah, Pekon (Village) Sidorejo, Suoh District, West Lampung Regency.

The supervisor of the Suoh Elephant Conflict Task Force and Bandar Negeri Suoh (BNS), Sugeng Hari Kinaryo Adi, said the appearance of the wild elephant was seen on Monday at 21.00 WIB.

"Yes, I received a report that the herd of wild elephants returned to the village in Talang Daiyah last night. The herd of wild elephants was behind the houses of local residents who were at that location," he said as quoted by ANTARA.

Currently, his party together with the local community are still monitoring the herd of wild elephants that enter the residents' settlements. "The blockade is carried out by residents together with the task force, it can be ascertained that until now the situation at the location is still safe. So that local residents do not need to evacuate, but of course we must remain vigilant and on guard," he said.

He also explained that the Suoh Valley Task Force has now carried out silting and dispelling the herd of wild elephants.

According to him, the herd of wild elephants amounted to 18 and are thought to have entered the forest again, but at night they returned to the settlement and damaged residents' houses.

Previously, the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park Center (BBTNBBS) together with the Bengkulu KSDA Center and partners (Repong Indonesia, YKWS, PILI, WCS and YABI), succeeded in installing GPS Collar on wild elephants in West Lampung, in order to monitor the position of these protected animals.

"Alhamdulillah, the installation of GPS Collar has been completed on the wild elephant," said Plt. Head of the TNBBS Center, Ismanto.

He said the position tracking device was in the form of a necklace attached to one of the elephants in the wild elephant group.

"On March 29, 2023, GPS Collar was installed in an elephant group called the 'Jambul' group, totaling 6 heads who were in Pekon (Village) Suka Marga, Suoh District, West Lampung Regency," he said.