Elephants intrude farmland in Bueng Kan

BUENG KAN, March 31 (TNA) - Officials have tried to push two elephants back into the forest after they came to search for food at plantations, causing damages to farm produces. The elephants descended from a mountain to look for food in para rubber plantations in Bung Khla district, causing damage to banana trees, para rubber trees and cassavas grown by local farmers. More than 30 officials of the Phu Wua wildlife sanctuary have been working around the clock for three days to round them up. Chief of the Phu Wua Wildlife sanctuary said currently, there are 46 elephants in the wildlife sanctuary. Due to the lack of food during the dry season, they are forced to roam out of the forest to find food. Officials have been dispatched to patrol the forest boundary to prevent the pachyderms from crossing to damage properties and farmlands. So far, wild elephants have caused damage, worth more than 130,000 baht to 52 villagers. Local authorities are considering compensation for affected villagers. (TNA)