REDUCING CONFLICT BETWEEN HUMAN AND ELEPHANT

Published on Mar Mon, 2023 | 12 images

Photo Story

Since 2011 until today, human conflicts with wild elephants have continued to occur in Bener Meriah Regency, Aceh Province, not a few plantation crops, residences’ houses have been damaged by the proboscis animals, and residents even make signs with various strings of words as a sign that the animal conflict is still ongoing.

The wild elephants in the Gayo highlands do not only destroy the plants in the residents' gardens, the herd of large animals also damage the plants in the elementary school yard which is on the outskirts of the Bireuen - Takengon national road.

Based on data from the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA), since the last five years, conflicts between wild elephants which entering settlements and damaging residents' plantations have increased, not only in Bener Meriah, but also in other areas such as Pidie, North Aceh, East Aceh and Aceh Jaya Regencies.

In 2015 there were 39 conflicts, and in 2016 it increased to 44. The number increased to 103 cases in 2017 and decreased in 2018 to 73 cases, but increased again in 2019 and 2020 with a record 107 cases.

"Efforts to deal with conflict by conducting patrols and herding wild elephants with tame elephants, we are still continue moving them to locations far from residential areas," said the Coordinator of the Conservation Response Unit (CRU) of the Peusangan Watershed, Bener Meriah Regency, Syahrol Rizal.

The Peusangan Watershed CRU assisted by the Saree Elephant Training Center (PLG) always deploys four trained elephants to herd wild elephants that regularly enter residential areas every year.

According to him, the Aceh BKSDA through the CRU, together with the Regency Government, form and dispatch a response team whenever a herd of wild elephants of more than 40 elephants enter settlements and damage plantation crops and chase farmers.

The increase in elephant conflicts that still continue until mid-2021 is feared to have an impact on the sustainability and shrinking of the habitat of these endangered and protected animals.

Text and Photo : Irwansyah Putra

Editor : Fanny Octavianus

SLIDESHOW

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A sumatran elephant is seen at the edge of a forest in Bener Meriah, Aceh.

Herd of wild Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus) are seen in local people’s plantation in Negeri Antara Village, Pintu Rime District, Bener Meriah Regency, Aceh.

A person ride motorcycle passed by a caution sign which made to raise vigilance in elephant conflict-prone area in Blang Rakal Village, Bener Meriah.

An officer of Peusangan Watershed CRU and a member of Bener Meriah Polics look on plantation which damaged by the herd of wild elephants in Negeri Antara Village, Bener Meriah, Aceh.

Officer of Peusangan Watershed CRU looks on a residence’s house which damaged by herd of wild sumatran elephants in Blang Rakal Village, Bener Meriah, Aceh.

Elephant conflict handling team from Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) conducts patrol by using tamed elephant in Bener Meriah.

Elephant conflict handling team from Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) conducts patrol by using tamed elephant in Bener Meriah.

A wild elephant which captured by team of Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) is being moved to other location by using heavy equipment.

Officers of Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) inject antidotes to wild elephant during evacuation to other location in Bener Meriah, Aceh.

Teachers and students of Dirgantara Elementary School look on wild Sumatran elephant dung which damaged plants located in the school yard in Negeri Antara Village, Bener Meriah.

Team from Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Center and local people burn firecrackers while driving away and moving wild elephant to other location in Bener Meriah, Aceh.

Veterinarian of Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Center assisted by mahout give treatment to tamed elephant which injured due to attack of herd of wild elephant at Saree Elephant Training Center in Aceh.