GUA MUSANG: More than 2,000 residents of three Orang Asli settlements – Pos Belatim, Pos Bihai and Pos Gob – are living in fear as their villages have been encroached on by a wild elephant since last week.
Rahimi Dolah, 45, from Pos Belatim, said his vegetable plots in Kampung Chachuh had been destroyed several times by the elephant, and he fears the animal will go to another village.
“The distance between my house and my farm is about 1km. I did not hear any noise when the elephant destroyed the farm because it often happened at night.
“I am a little worried about the safety of the people here because the elephant is still roaming in this area, and it may move to other villages,” he said.
Kamal Padek, 43, of Pos Bihai, said the wild elephant initially entered their settlement for food, but it rampaged through the farm, located 100m away from the settlement.
“Last Monday, an elephant came to the village to eat the tapioca planted near the house. We managed to drive it away, but the animal returned to the garden during the night.
“The elephant eats tapioca and bananas and damages the saplings of coconut and rubber trees,” he said.
Meanwhile, Angah Along, 60, hopes that the Department of Orang Asli Development and Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) could immediately address the matter.
“It is unlikely that this elephant will move to another place because it has found its food source here. So I hope the relevant authorities will help us,” he said.
Galas state assemblyman Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim said the conflict between the elephant and humans should not be allowed to continue and the authorities should take temporary security measures, such as setting up elephant repellent lamps or campfires, to prevent the elephant from damaging more crops. — Bernama
