Going to a new home: Rangers preparing to relocate Pak Muda Subong (centre) from Kampung Subong. — Bernama
GUA MUSANG: The Kelantan Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) has captured and relocated an adult male elephant that has been causing sleepless nights to some 300 residents.
The three-tonne animal, believed to be part of a herd of 20 elephants, was captured on Friday at Kampung Subong Land Rehabilitation Programme (RPT) in Kesedar Sungai Terah here.Sungai Terah RPT Wild Elephant Relocation Operations chief Mohammad Abu Huzaifah Abu Samah said two elephants, “Abot” and “Rambai”, acting as “denak” (tamers), were brought in from the National Elephant Conservation Centre in Kuala Gandah, Lanchang, Pahang, to facilitate the relocation process yesterday.
The wild elephant is believed to have attacked a cow in Kampung Awek and destroyed crops in Kampung Lembaga and Kesedar Sungai Terah RPT.
Given the name “Pak Muda Subong”, the wild elephant, aged between 25 and 30, will be released at the Tembat Forest Reserve in Terengganu.
A resident, Awang Hamad, 60, said he is relieved with Perhilitan’s swift action in capturing the elephant, which he believed was the one that destroyed his banana crop.
“I thank Perhilitan for their effort and I hope they will also have long-term plans to resolve the problem of wild elephants coming into our settlements,” he said, Bernama reported.
