Elephants destroy more than 2,000 banana trees in Baling

BALING: Elephants roaming near Kampung Batu 8 destroyed more than 2,000 banana trees that were bearing fruit.
Villagers said the wild animals also destroyed almost 1,000 oil palm trees and had been seen near residential areas particularly around midnight.
"Despite lodging a report, no action has been taken by the authorities including the Department of Wildlife and National Parks," said farmer Yahya Mat Isa, 55, who had lost 200 of his banana trees to the elephants in the past three months.
"I don't dare to take any action except report the matter to the authorities," he said.
Another farmer Yaakub Saad, 67, also complained that there had been no action or compensation from the relevant authorities for their losses following the destruction by the elephants.
"Some parties suggested that we have no right to seek compensation as the crops were planted on government land. But we have not received any even though the land belonged to us," he lamented. — Bernama