PALMOILMAGAZINE, ACEH JAYA – Over the past four days, wild elephants have damaged eight hectares of palm oil plantations belonging to villagers in Gunong Meulinteng, Panga Subdistrict, Aceh Jaya Regency.
According to an unnamed villager quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from Bithe on Sunday, June 18, 2024, packs of wild elephants, possibly around 30 in number, are still present around the villagers’ plantations.
The damaged plantations include newly planted ones and those between 3 to 5 years old. The villager expressed concern that previous encounters with wild elephants had caused damage, but this recent incident was particularly severe.
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“We reported the issue to authorities, but they only came to take photos,” the villager said, noting that villagers resorted to using fireworks to deter the elephants. Following the incident, villagers are fearful of engaging in activities near their plantations due to the presence of wild elephants. They are urging authorities to take action to prevent further conflicts between humans and animals.
This would be the concern for the villagers because palm oil is the only source of living for them. The villagers urged that the government would do concrete thing and solve the issue effectively and sustainably. (T2)
