1,800 Sumatra Elephants Choking from Forest Fires
10/3/97
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Headline: 1,800 Sumatra Elephants Choking from Forest Fires
Source: Agence France-Presse
Date: 10/3/97
Copyright 1997 by Agence France-Presse
Subject: 1,800 Sumatra elephants choking from Indonesian forest fires
JAKARTA, Oct 3 (AFP) - About 1,800 elephants in the hinterlands
of Sumatra island face famine and respiratory problems as fires
consume their grassland and forest habitats, the official Antara
news agency said Friday.
Herds of animals, including elephants and tigers, have been seen
entering villages in the province of Riau and recently attacked
residents, it said, quoting Riau environmental bureau chief Said
Abdurrachman.
An elephant herd ran amuck in the subdistrict of Kerintang,
destroying several hectares of plantations, he said, adding the huge
mammals faced food shortages and respiratory problems.
"In the end, the elephant herds and the people will have to
share the crops...and all share the air which is filled with smoke,"
Abdurrachman said.
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