KOTA BARU: The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) has captured a male elephant in Kampung Sungai Long, Jeli.
Its Kelantan director Mohamad Hafid Rohani said the operation involved a team of seven from the Jeli office and the state Elephant Capture Unit on Tuesday (July 30) following reported animal sightings.
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"With the capture, it is hoped the residents' fears and losses due to crop and property damage will be reduced.
"We will relocate the elephant to a more suitable, safer habitat," he said in a statement on Friday (Aug 2), adding that this would be done by the Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre with Perhilitan's assistance.
"(The capture and relocation) are being done to reduce human-wildlife conflict in the area, with residents advised to take mitigating measures including installing blue LED lights along routes used by the elephants to their farms.
"The farmers are also advised to keep their farms clean and build electric perimeter fencing to keep wild animals away," he said.
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Perhilitan has employed blue LEDs since 2017 to curb elephant encroachment, as it found the animals stayed away from areas marked by the lights.
However, Hafid said capture and relocation was not a long-term solution, as the area is close to the Gunung Basor Permanent Forest Reserve with an estimated population of over 50 elephants.
"Any complaints and information regarding wildlife can be channelled to Perhilitan via our hotline 1-800-88-5151 or our website www.wildlife.gov.my," he added. – Bernama
