Perhilitan translocates two-tonne wild jumbo to T'ganu national park

KOTA BARU (Bernama): A two-tonne male wild elephant captured in Batu Melintang, Jeli, on Sunday (July 21) was successfully relocated by the Wildlife and National Park Department (Perhilitan) to the Terengganu National Park.

Kelantan Perhilitan director Ady Ermanty Haniff Mohamed Hanif said that two decoy elephants, namely, Abot and Rambai, from the National Elephant Conservation Centre (NECC) in Kuala Gandah, Lanchang, in Pahang were used in the operation.

He said that the relocation exercise started at 8.30am Wednesday (July 24) and was completed at 1.15pm.

''The 25 to 30-year-old elephant is believed to be from a group of 10 elephants which intruded into agricultural areas in the district of Jeli.

''There are about 30 elephants in the Gunung Basor Forest Reserve and the group of 10 elephants which often encroach into agricultural areas is from there,'' he told Bernama.

Ady Ermanty said that the Jeli Perhilitan received several complaints from residents of Batu Melintang on disturbances by elephants in early July.

He said that the department responded by sending six Jeli district Perhilitan rangers to monitor the situation and the operation was conducted on Sunday.

''The bull elephant was caught at 12.30 pm in Kampung Batu Melintang.

''Twenty-two Kelantan Perhilitan and NECC personnel were roped in for the relocation exercise today,'' he said.

Ady Ermanty said that the relocation exercise was also assisted by the Jeli District Council and policemen from the Jeli district police headquarters.

''The wild elephant was transported using a trailer from NECC. The elephant is in good condition and healthy,'' he added. – Bernama