Elephants as neighbors: Whaddya do?

Petani village residents said the elephants were still hanging out Thursday, but the number had dwindled to a few from the initial 45, Antara New reported Friday.

"For the past two weeks we have been staying in the homes of people in another part of our village located far from where the elephants are," one displaced resident, Raya, told the newspaper.

Raya said he and his neighbors didn't try to drive the herd out because they were afraid the animals would become aggressive and attack them.

Petani village head Riantono said there wasn't much he could do except tell the villagers to stay alert.

"As village head I do not know what I have to do. I can only make appeals," Riantono said. "We cannot kill them because, if we do, we will get into trouble with the law."

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