Indonesian bears raid pantries: report

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

JAKARTA (AFP) — Bears in Indonesia's West Sumatra province have started raiding kitchens in houses on the edge of the forest in search of food, a report said Monday.

The honey or sun bears (Helarctos Malayanus) have raided kitchens in three residences in the Danau Kembar area in the past few days, the Kompas newspaper said.

In the latest incident early Sunday, two of the powerful omnivores entered a tea plantation worker's kitchen by removing planks on the walls and feasted on milk, cooking oil and leftovers.

"These animals do not fear humans. Even though there was someone sitting in front of the house they just went straight into the kitchen," the daily quoted Daswir, a plantation security guard, as saying.

Conservation officials are planning to...