VietNamNet Bridge - Around 54 wild elephants have recently been spotted roaming Ia R’ve border commune in Ea Sup district, in the central highlands province of Dak Lak, looking for food and causing local residents to worry about the risk of  possible attacks.

Residents of Ia R’ve have reported sightings of two herds of 18 elephants approaching villages to search for fruit and other food in July and August, 2008.

Several months later, those elephants joined by another herd, consisting of 36 elephants, which came within 50-100 m of the commune, causing the villagers to run away to a safer place.

In the past, wild elephants used to visit this commune, looking for food but they always left quickly after local residents made noises or lit fires.

However, the wild elephants have gradually become used to this traditional method and they are now choosing to remain in the area due to the availability of fresh food.

|According to wildlife experts, the rapid loss of the area’s natural forests has resulted in the once-abundant supply of food to disappear, causing the elephants to move to other areas in search of food.