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| Home | Jun 04, 2001 |
vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn |
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Elephants
seek sanctuary
HCM CITY — Villagers still fear for their lives as the authorities struggle to relocate a herd of rampaging elephants in the southern province of Binh Thuan. Commenting on the recurring problem earlier this week, the chairman of the Suoi Kiet Commune in Tanh Linh District, said: "About nine elephants including three babies have appeared again in the area destroying crops and houses." He said the elephants had attacked 17 houses in the 700-household commune of 3,300 people. The raging beasts destroyed dozens of hectares of maize, sugarcane and banana crops on the eve of the monsoon season. In the past two years elephants have killed ten people and destroyed more than 233ha of crops in Tanh Linh District. They also roam freely in Tan Minh Commune, Ham Tan District, and even stray as far as the province’s main road. In response, people in the area have set up early-warning teams to watch out for the elephants during the night. They also light fires to scare the huge mammals since the elephants often attack between 8pm and early morning. The problem should have been solved following Government action scheduled for implementation late last year. Last September, the Forest Protection Department (FPD) announced the relocation of the elephants to the Yok Don National Park in the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) province of Dac Lac. It should have taken place earlier this year with technical assistance from Indonesian experts who had previously transferred 1,300 elephants in their country. The FPD blamed a funding shortfall for the delay. A total of VND3 billion (US$204,000) is required to fund the relocation but pledges from the Dutch government and environmental group Fauna and Floral International (FFI), have yet to materialise. As the crisis faced by the two districts deepens, the FPD said it would appeal to the Prime Minister this week to allocate the money from the State contingency budget. If the Prime Minister approves the FPD request, preparation for relocation will commence this month before the elephants are finally relocated in September or October – regardless of the monsoon season. — VNS
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