IT is a high-risk job, but for mahout Muhammad Sakri Mohd Shadan, caring for elephants has become a passion since he joined the Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre in 2006.

The 39-year-old Pahang native told The Malaysian Insight that it is no easy work, and every mahout has suffered some form of injury.

“Sometimes, we get afraid of the elephants rescued from the wild.

“But it’s normal to get hurt in this line of work. Sometimes, it’s not intentional, but all of us have suffered being hit or poked by the elephants.”

The centre is home to 31 jumbos rescued from across the peninsula and two brought in from Myanmar and India to help with training wild elephants.

There are 20 mahouts training and rehabilitating the animals at the centre.

Sakri, who joined 14 years ago, said he enjoys bonding with the elephants.

“It was not easy at first, as we were not allowed near the elephants without our senior’s supervision. It took me three months to get used to them. There is still fear, but we have to be brave.

“The more time we spend (with the elephants), the closer we get (to them). The most important thing is to follow the standard operating procedure.”

He said the elephants under his care have become like close friends.

According to the Wildlife and Natural Parks Department (Perhilitan), there are now 2,000 elephants in the peninsula, and 2,500 in Sabah and Sarawak.

Apart from caring for the creatures, Sakri is also part of the elephant rescue team, and has participated in more than 20 rescue and relocation operations.

“We are always very careful when we go into the jungle to look for wild elephants.

“There is fear because anything can happen. But the confidence builds up over the years.”

The centre, he said, serves as an educational facility for those who want to know more about elephants.

Over the past 30 years, the elephant rescue team has helped relocate 900 of the animals from the wild.

Veteran mahout Saudi Sidik said they are looking to request a higher risk allowance for the sanctuary’s mahouts.

“There is already a risk allowance for all the staff here, including the administration people and those handling the counters.

“We think the mahouts, who are the ones interacting with the elephants, should get a bit more as their job is more high-risk.”

Last year, the centre attracted more than 215,000 visitors, who got to see the elephants grazing, exercising and bathing in the river.

There is also a video of the translocation of the elephants, and visitors get to feed them.

Selangor resident Liza Azizi, 34, said she was intrigued by the centre.

“This is my first time here. I didn’t know this place existed. I heard about it from my friends, and it is magnificent to see the elephants up close, not like at the zoo.”

Zulkhairi Kholih, 30, said it is good that elephants are being cared for.

“It is good to see that the centre is caring for the rescued elephants, which have been displaced.” – January 25, 2020.