European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 1, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse c a diver lifts a Timber Tram a 16th-Century Basque whaling vessel founts Oft Labrador interest in ancient shipwrecks combined with increasingly tic Tod diving techniques has Ltd seek on the activity from Iho Dawn of Mankind. Logged when therry is no place Lor the melt Waler to Drain because to ice Grams in slush Are so loosely bonded it is unstable and can cause an Avalanche oven on gentle slopes avalanches May also result when a now snowfall covers a layer of surface Hoar Large Loose crystals formed at High elevations on Clear nights when Iho surface of the Snow loses heat to the sky and Waler vapor from the warmer air condenses on the colder Snover the risk of Avalanche is one of Many situations influenced by such characteristics of Snow As the size and shape of Tho crystals. How lightly they Aie bonded and How wot compacted and tainted with air pollutants the Snow pack May be scientists have shown that those varying qualities some of which can change dramatically in a Low hours determine Snow s ability to absorb and Refl ocl Light conduct heat and transmit air and water. Tho physical properties of Snoa in turn Al fact the survival of wildlife microclimate skiing and driving conditions and available Waltr Lor the next growing season. While urbates May regard Snow As a pain in to neck and Back and treachery under ool. M Many Rural areas it is the single most important source of agricultural water a i incr season of Little Snow can mean 3 Spring Doug no in some areas skimpy snowfalls Loi Elcel Lamme at Tho other end of Hie spectrum when heavy snows in Highlands in Cut pie piously while the ground is still Frozen serious hooding can result delaying Spring planting. Unruly pachyderms go to Reform school Byruth Youngblood United press International go. 12. Was once considered an incorrigible delinquent who smashed houses flattened villages and trampled crops. Now tic s turned Over a new loaf and is to Pride of a Reform school Lor wayward elephants in Indonesia. He has a whole new life said Trainer Dic Tih. T9, who suffered a dislocated ankle and numb Frijs bruises while civilizing the unruly Argo now performs tricks and gives rides to children. Like Many delinquent children Argo s wild youth can be blamed on a bad Home situation or s ii Savory companions. Elephants became victims of Progress forests which sheltered them gradually were cleared to make Way for Farmers said Indonesia s conservation Chiel Widodo. Tha Island of Sumatra 140 Miles Northwest cd Jakarta a Siomo to 2,000 wild elephants but its tacit of population and its Rich soit have lured Farmers from All Over Indonesia. With now arrivals usurping Tho elephant s traditional feeding grounds he herds soon cultivated a taste for he crops of bananas sugar Cane doves Rice co Onuis and soybeans. Exploding dynamite and buzzing helicopters Al Western Oil companies exploring Sumatra also Inch tuned the elephants stampeding in groups sometimes numbering m the hundreds elephants invaded farms wiping out harvests and Homes and sometimes Iho Farmers hordes trampled through one settlement after another. So far 16 Pool i including several children have died either picked up by powerful trunks and heaved aside or crushed to death. Killing elephants has been banned in Indonesia since 1931 to protect them irom Ivory poachers so villagers 1ried to drive the beasts away with fire poles firecrackers Drums gongs and blasting music. Nothing worked. That s when people came Lous for help Widodo said. They were angry Hal it was a crime to harm the elephants when their livelihoods and lives were at at Way Kambas Widodo said Iho anti nos Are prepared Tor now careers in entertain men. Logging and farming. He Pohlod to elephants frolicking in the River and others practising balancing acrobatics precision marching and on special occasions All 42 elephants at the school play soccer they re also Laughl such practical skills As Clearing logs in Jungle areas and hauling produce. But Widodo sad he is More interested in bringing them to carnivals and circuses to amuse people and possibly change Iho negative image the huge beasts have in cringe at the Mere thought of elephants associating them with devastation and even death he said. These loveable animals Are suffering from a bad with no real experience in capturing wild elephants. Widodo turned to Thailand which has Long experience in training elephants for the logging Industry when his own efforts at arrest got nowhere. Officials purchased two Well mannered bulls and Tranquili Zoi guns and persuaded live experienced thai trainers to pass on their techniques. Roundups went Lar More smoothly thereafter. Once Calm Tho elephants ambled Mlo the trucks Tor the Uip to Way Kambas and schooling in rehabilitation which started in 19b5. Tethered to a Iree with its tags in chains to newcomer soon learns to is locally dependent on his Trainer Tor food jaunts to Iho River Lor Baths and special treats of sugar Cane and bananas. Since elephants Are uncomfortable in heal and need to Wallow or rest during midday hours classes Lake place in the morning and Lale afternoon the first lesson involves teaming to lift a front leg on command. Tho order is Given the elephant s leg is tapped witty a stick and lavish Praise and patting follows the slightest inclination toward the right move. Thai elephants Are available for demonstrations. The same technique is used to induce he learners to walk when led. Sit Down and finally Permil a rider something which takes six months of persuasion we Don t give them a Treal each time they perform correctly because they la come to expect it Widodo said. The stars and stripes Page 15
