Sumatran Elephant Poisoning In Indonesia Is Second Since April

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AP) — An official says a second endangered Sumatran elephant has been poisoned in western Indonesia, apparently by villagers trying to protect their crops.

Forestry Ministry official Harmidi says the carcass of the 20-year-old male elephant was discovered Wednesday near a plantation in Aceh province.

Harmidi, who uses only one name, says a group of elephants had been wandering in the area in recent days, roaring and destroying crops.

An 18-year-old female died in Aceh after being poisoned in late April.

As forests disappear, elephants stray into inhabited areas in search of food.

Fewer than 3,000 Sumatran elephants are left in the wild and environmentalists warn that they could be extinct within three decades unless steps are taken to protect them.

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Comments

[Edy Williams]

07:28 PM on 05/25/2012

In All History Books: ( EMPEROR :KANGXI: 1662-1722), Inside the Forbidden City, A Elephant of NOBILITY,led the way toward the Meridian GATE, A procession of ELEPHANTS formed 2 lines, making a Pathway for the Emperor to the "Son of Heaven".He would leave the great within to visit the temple of Heaven! They held their trunks high for long hours it took the procession to pass. The Elephant was granted the title of "NOBILITY". In Receipt he Knelt respectfully & appeared to Listen. Do You Think Any Plantation Owner even KNOWS this?

[Edy Williams]

05:42 PM on 05/17/2012

Cetainly the children & a guardian should have at least a proper cermonial tribute , they could circle her holding hands, sing a nice song, cover her with flowers/ leaves , then a creamation. To teach these young who in 5-10 years will be the new leaders of their villages.She should be able to go with her DIGNITY! The Buddhists consider them gods, when touched they say it brings one Elightenment!

[ash1987]

05:30 PM on 05/16/2012

Something should be done to get the Elephants coraled or something, elsewise there is going to be more of this happening. When it comes down to a village staving off hunger, and an endangered species, the people will win out every time.

If they could find some way to keep the animals contained it might keep this from happening.

That is my two cents at least.

[Edy Williams]

05:47 PM on 05/17/2012

In Banning at the Giant Morongo hotel & Indian reservations, they have many acres devoted to their fine herd of steer Cattle & their young. I have witnessed them moving once a month the 1,000 herd to a next pasture, then the next month, move to another. Alas, my shepard dog spotted a rabbit there, he zoomed out the window crawled thru their barbed wire. He would not return. Finding out!had to be a Marine, grab my purse, then on my back push up this barbed wire, BARELY squish thru. Why it was totally wired off from the ground to 7 feet up.! They did a good job. Why not this for the elephants too?

[plans includingdog]

04:49 PM on 05/16/2012

In the world most people who don't care about this are insane.Or they are made of stone.Betting on the latter.

[ceekreewd]

02:06 PM on 05/16/2012

Offer the meat to the viilages...

[RagdeSitum]

11:13 PM on 05/16/2012

Make them eat it after having rotted in the sun for a couple of weeks.

[bullbreedbit]

01:57 PM on 05/16/2012

As hard as it is to say...it would be a far better death to shoot it with a gun then to have it suffer a horrible death from poison...

[Edy Williams]

05:49 PM on 05/17/2012

Yes, it is too cruel for the Gentle ones, long days of laying, thrushing on ground, foaming at mouth. There has to be Fencing put up, oil plantations closed!

[Hugatreetoday]

12:07 PM on 05/16/2012

*sigh* There's just no end to the ravaging of this planet by humans....

[rhooperg]

02:31 PM on 05/16/2012

Let's not lose perspective here. The poachers in Africa are not large in number, and the number one poacher control mechanism is believe it or not, the professional hunting guides. This trade will not die as long as there is an incredible demand for Rhino horn from far east apothecaries. Whenever you have big bucks demand, you'll always have people who want to capitalize on it. The most unfortunate thing is that there aren't many Rhinos left. Same with elephants- the ivory commands such high prices that poachers even slaughter the babies to get the little ivory "nubs". Humans who know better want nothing to do with this

[Hugatreetoday]

10:58 AM on 05/17/2012

It's not the ones who know better that trouble me. :(

[Edy Williams]

05:51 PM on 05/17/2012

We care, & are trying from the U.S to educate these villagers. Thru films, thru their patrols. They must learn more of the great wonder of the" unlike any other" in civilzation today!