JERTIH: The Terengganu Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) successfully relocated a male wild elephant on Wednesday (Jan 21) that was found damaging oil palm crops around Kampung Felcra Keruak in Hulu Besut near here.
Its director Loo Kean Seong said the elephant, weighing 1.5 tonnes, was captured by his department last Friday.
He said the relocation operation on Wednesday began at 8am by loading the wild animal onto a special truck. The operation ended around 1pm the same day.
"A total of 16 staff from the Terengganu Perhilitan, the Sungai Deka Elephant Conservation Centre, and the Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre in Temerloh, Pahang, were involved in the operation to relocate this elephant," he said when contacted.
He said the animal was the first wild elephant captured and relocated by his team this year.
"By capturing and relocating elephants in this village area, it helps prevent the villagers from suffering greater losses due to their crops being damaged," he said.
Meanwhile, Loo said that a total of five wild elephants in Terengganu were successfully captured and relocated to suitable locations throughout last year.
He also advised the public to be more careful and vigilant if they encounter wildlife and to report it immediately to his department for further action. - Bernama
