Pekanbaru, Riau, Sept (ANTARA) - The local government of Rokan Hulu (Rohul) district in Riau province is considering the possibility of relocating four wild elephants to solve the problem of conflicts between residents and the animals.
"The relocation of the elephants should be carried out very carefully and the cause of the conflict in the area should be studied," Director for Forest and Nature Conservation of the Forestry Ministry, Daruri said.
He made the statement when he opened a workshop on the conservation of Sumatran elephants here on Wednesday.
Daruri said the plan to relocate the elephants needed to be studied comprehensively. His side would not relocate the elephants from the conservation area.
He said that if the conflict between residents and elephants was caused by human behaviors his office would rehabilitate the conservation area and maintain the elephants there.
The regional government of Rohul through the plantation and forestry services has sent in 2009 a letter of request to Riau Natural Resources Conservation Office (BBKSDA) for the relocation of wild elephants from the Pemenuhan elephant enclave.
The same letter has also be sent to the forestry Minister last July.
Daruri said that if the elephant enclave was located in the conservation area, then there would be no relocation for the elephants.
He said that relocation of elephants could be done only if it was through a save procedure and the new location for wield elephants had been prepared well.
"This is not to repeat the mistake made in 2007 when the BBKSD Riau relocated 10 elephants from the Balai Raja Preserve Animal Area.
He said that the relocation was a mistake where the new habitat even served as if it was a "torture" place for the elephants.
