QuickCheck: Are wild elephants damaging crops at an Orang Asli village in Gua Musang?


ELEPHANTS are big and magnificent animals, but essentially are living bulldozers that run on vegetables. Apparently, some Orang Asli farmers in a village near Gua Musang found out how hungry a herd of elephants can be the hard way.

Is this true?

Verdict:

TRUE

The presence of two wild elephants allegedly damaging crops in Kampung Remau, Pos Bihai, has caused concern among 150 Orang Asli of the Temiar tribe in the settlement.

Residents claim after damaging crops in Kampung Suma and Kampung Bujuk, these elephants have now encroached on the plantation area in Kampung Remau since Monday (Jan 29).

One of the residents, Hassan Ahcoi, 57, said that the two elephants reappeared on Tuesday evening and were reported near the village area.

"The incident on Tuesday was the second time that elephants ate our crops, and residents managed to record the behaviour of the wild elephants devouring their crops.

"Previously, we were aware of incidents occurring in several villages in Pos Bihai, but we did not expect it to come to our village as well," he told reporters on Thursday (Feb 1).

Hassan expressed concern that the wild animals might continue to appear and act aggressively, threatening their safety.

"We are worried that these elephants will damage residents' homes, similar to the incidents which occurred in Kampung Bujuk and Kampung Suma.

"We hope immediate action is taken to address the issue of wild animal threats in Pos Bihai and prevent residents from losing their sources of food and homes," he said.

Meanwhile, Kelantan Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) director, Mohamad Hafid Rohani, confirmed that his department had received a report about the incident.

However, he explained that a four-wheeled drive vehicle carrying the Perhilitan team to the settlement got stuck due to the slippery road. – Bernama

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