Dozens of elephants in Dak Lak Province have been scaring people and destroying crops while searching for food outside of the forest because of drought and disappearing forest land.

A herd of elephants cross the road

Since February, when the drought began to become more serious in the Central Highlands, many elephants have come out of the forest looking for food and water. They are now often travel between residential areas and cultivated fields in daylight, damaging many crops along the way.

Nguyen Van Danh, who lives in Village 2 in Ea Kiet Commune, said they tried to chase a herd of 10 elephants back to the forest with fire and loud noises to no avail. A one-year-old elephant tragically drowned while drinking water.

In early April, another herd travelled across the fields in Cu M'lanh Commune. One elephant fell into a well and was rescued. But it was rejected by the herd because of human scent.

Most recently, 20 elephants from Yok Don National Park travelled to Ea Sup Thuong Lake and destroyed many crops.

Local Tran Thu Lan said the elephants often went out during drought season to find food and water, however, this time the elephants were more aggressive and violent than ever.

Huynh Trung Luan, director of Dak Lak Province Elephant Conservation Centre said the elephants only went out to find food at night in previous years. They are co-operating with relevant agencies to monitor the elephants' movement to prevent clashes with people. They also carry out training courses for people in the 10 communes.

Associated Professor Bao Huy at Central Highlands University said tens of thousands of hectares of northern and western forest lands had been destroyed.

"We proposed to withdraw and stop issuing permits to rubber plantation projects in those areas but it was rejected," he said.

Dtinews