Indonesia, Jan. 26 -- Indonesia's military has deployed troops to help contain escalating conflicts between wild elephants and villagers in East Lampung, while authorities prepare to build a long fence along the boundary of Way Kambas National Park.

The move is part of the armed forces' support role for local governments, said Major General Kristomei Sianturi, commander of the Military Regional Command XXI/Radin Inten, in a statement issued in Bandar Lampung on Monday.

He said soldiers from the Labuhan Ratu Territorial Development Infantry Battalion were assigned to assist residents in driving away wild elephants and maintaining security in villages surrounding Way Kambas National Park.

"This step is crucial because human-elephant conf...