Cropping out jumbo-human strife

Welcome to the world: Newborn calf Damar cuddling with its 22-year-old mother Ngatini at Buluhcina Nature Park in Kampar, Riau. — AFP

AS elephant-human conflicts continue to be reported in Sumatra amid massive deforestation that prompts the critically endangered species to go to plantations and human settlements to find food, an expert has suggested that planting the right crops may prevent such conflicts.

Wahdi Azmi, director of the Aceh Conservation Response Unit, which aims to care for the elephant population, said Sumatran elephants were not familiar with oil palm fruit in the past.