Jakarta – The number of conflicts between residents and Sumatran elephants doubled in Riau during the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, data from the Riau Resource Conservation Center (BBKSDA) shows.
"Data recorded between January and June this year shows that there has been a sharp increase compared to the same period last year," BBKSDA Riau chief Suharyono said in Pekanbaru city, Riau, on Saturday, as quoted by Antara.
The center recorded 30 conflicts between wild elephants and residents in various parts of the province between January and June this year, a spike from the 16 cases recorded over the same period last year.
The number started high in January and February with four and five cases respectively, before it declined to one case in March. However, the figure jumped to four cases in April and six in May.
June marked the highest number of such conflicts with 10 cases; four conflicts in Kampar regency and Pekanbaru respectively and two in Bengkalis regency.
The BBKSDA is currently trying to resolve a conflict between 11 elephants and residents in Karya Indah village in Tapung subdistrict of Kampar. The elephants have been entering the residents' plantations from their habitat in the Tesso Nilo landscape forest.
The center has assigned two trained elephants to drive the herd of wild elephants to their habitat. (ars)