Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post
July 10, 2007
Ulu Semong village in Ulu Belu district, Tanggamus regency, borders the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (TNBBS) in West Lampung, with its forest environs being hemmed only by Mount Gede. Its approximately 3,000 residents are no stranger to raids by wild elephants, which cause damage to the villagers' huts, rice fields and plantations.
A herd of seven Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatrensis) from the park usually attack this hamlet, ravaging and devouring villagers' crops such as rice, coffee, pepper, corn and chili. The wild elephants also trample down their cabins and huts near the paddies, which are on the herd's path to the plantation crops.
So far, local villagers have strived to prevent the elephants' entry to their settlements by using calcium carbide, sounding bamboo drums, swinging torches and other means. Every night, those living near the park's border zone patrol their area by turns to scare away the herd, which may rush in suddenly.
But the villagers tackle the routine job with joy, particularly it comes to drive the invading elephants back to the park.
"It's a kind of recreation for us. TV programs are our only entertainment every day. By moving in groups while lighting firecrackers called jedum, we sort of enjoy a new pastime," said Darwin, 47, village head of Ulu Semong.
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