GUA MUSANG: The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) successfully relocated a male elephant believed to have encroached into orchards and residential areas around Kampung Pulau Setelu here.
Kelantan Perhilitan director Wan Mohd Adib Wan Yusoh said the tusked male elephant is estimated to be between 15 and 18 years old.
He said the operation involved 19 personnel, including those from the National Elephant Conservation Centres in Sungai Deka, Terengganu, and Kuala Gandah, Pahang.
Kampung Pulau Setelu resident Zakaria Omar, 62, said they have been facing the threat of wild elephants for several years, resulting in losses to their crops, including oil palm, bananas and durians.
“Some elephants have even ventured as close as 2m to 4m from residents’ houses, forcing us to remain constantly vigilant whenever we leave our homes,” he said.
Mukim Bertam Barat federal village development and security committee chairman Mokhtar Dahari Ibrahim said the capture of the wild elephant has brought relief to more than 1,000 residents.
