THE Kelantan Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) has relocated to Taman Negara a 15-year-old wild male elephant from Kg Jerek, Batu Melintang, here, today.

Its director Ady Ermanty Haniff Mohamed Hanif said the elephant, with a footprint size of 33cm, was caught by a Perhilitan team in a secondary forest area at the village after receiving a complaint on December 1.

“The operation involved seven employees of the Kelantan Perhilitan using a tranquilliser gun.

“The successful capture of the elephant, to a certain extent, provided relief to the villagers and residents of the nearby villages,” he said when met by reporters, in Jeli, today.

Ady Ermanty said the elephant was from the Gunung Basor, Jeli herd which had an estimated 30 elephants.

“The property and crop losses at the village are estimated at RM99,550. The relocation of the elephant is expected to at least prevent future losses to the villagers,” he said.

He said the operation to relocate the elephant took four hours, from 8am to 12 noon, led by Pahang’s Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre chief, Mohammad Khairul Adha Mat Amin.

“Twenty-five other members were tasked in the operation to move the two-tonne elephant assisted by the Police, Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA), Jeli District Council and Tenaga Nasional Berhad,” he said.

He added the operation also involved two decoy elephants from the Sungai Deka Elephant Conservation Centre, Terengganu. – Bernama, December 5, 2020.