Hungry elephant to be relocated

Captured: The 15-year-old bull elephant caught by Perhilitan in Terengganu. – Bernama

JERTEH: The Terengganu Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) has caught a wild bull elephant which destroyed crops in Kampung Padang Tapong near here.

Terengganu Perhilitan director Loo Kean Seong said the elephant was caught last Saturday following complaints from the public.

“The elephant was captured at 2.15pm soon after efforts were made to detect it.

“The two-tonne elephant is about 15 years old and is believed to have come from the Pelagat Forest Reserve located near the village,” he said when contacted by Bernama yesterday.

Loo said the elephant would be relocated on Wednesday with the help of tame elephants from the Sungai Deka Elephant Conservation Centre in Hulu Terengganu, about 120km from here.

Meanwhile, villager Mohd Zulkifli Ismail, 61, expressed his relief after Perhilitan managed to catch the elephant.

“Over the past three days, many pineapple plants as well as banana, jackfruit and rubber trees in my orchard, located about 200m from the main road near the village, were damaged and eaten by the animal.

“With the elephant in the vicinity, I was also worried about going to the orchard, fearing that it might be lurking nearby,” he added.

Mohd Zulkifli said his neighbours also suffered losses when their orchards and oil palm smallholdings were destroyed.

He added that the elephant had also wandered close to the housing area of Taman Saujana near the village.