A BIG Problem

Citizens in central Sumatra are facing an increasingly dangerous problem -- wandering elephants. Loggers and farmers encroach on an elephant's natural territory, and the usually gentle animals can cause millions of dollars in property damage or even kill when angered. Because the population is growing, farms are often the only food source a family has, and a trampled harvest could mean starvation. On the other hand, most of the wandering elephants are due to logging, which forces them out of their forest homes into villages and cities. Natives are turning to techniques such as burning "anti-elephant briquettes," which are large, sun-baked bricks made of equal parts clay, cow dung, and chili peppers. Sort of bug repellent, except much bigger. And, we presume smellier.

Another Sumatran province has created a squad composed of nine people and four trained elephants, which rush to the site of elephant invasions armed with noisemakers to scare them away. If that doesn't work, the trained elephants are prepared to fight the invaders off the logging site.

We have a better idea. Don't cut down their homes in the first place.