Scare as wild elephants target residents’ homes

KLUANG: The presence of several elephants in a residential area in Taman Sri Lambak here has caused uneasiness among 500 residents who fear for their safety.

Resident N. Muniammah, 62, claimed it had been almost a year since she had to deal with the wild elephants that often encroached into her house compound and damaged the gates and window panes.

“The most recent was last Thursday and Friday, when two elephants entered the parking area at about 5am, breaking the door and window panes that have been repaired many times.

“I was stunned and frozen with fear when I saw a wild elephant right in front of my eyes. I panicked and didn’t know what to do. My pet dog too was cowering in fear,” she told Bernama at her residence here yesterday.

Muniammah hopes the relevant authorities will take appropriate action because the residents not only suffer losses but also face security risks as the wild elephants aren’t afraid of human presence.

Another resident, Saedin Sadoon, 49, said the wandering beasts also caused danger on the roads, claiming that his son was injured when he rammed his motorcycle into an elephant when it was dark.

Meanwhile, Johor Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director Aminuddin Jamin said the department had been informed about the incidents and was tracking the herd of elephants.

Aminuddin said the operation to track the animals would take about two weeks, after which they would be transferred to an area far away from the settlement.

Earlier, video clips of the intrusion of elephants in the residential area had gone viral.