IPOH: The three wild elephants caught in Ulu Kuang last Wednesday (Sept 28) have been successfully relocated to the Royal Belum Forest Reserve in Gerik, today.
The elephants were caught by the Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) after they had destroyed plantations in Ulu Kuang, Chemor.
The trans-relocation operation was also assisted by the National Elephants Conservation Centre in Kuala Gandah, Pahang, involving 18 staff.
The centre’s Elephant Unit head Nasharuddin Othman said the elephants were detected on Sept 30, a day after the operation to track them was launched.
“It took us five days to complete the process because we also needed help from two female guide elephants, named Abot and Rambai, from our centre," he said.
Nasharuddin said the three elephants were believed to have strayed from their habitat in the Korbu Forest Reserve.
He said the elephants involved were a three-tonne female and its two calves, aged between two and three-years-old.
“We will continue monitoring the situation and will catch the remaining four to five elephants to prevent them from destroying the plantations.
“The elephants can go as far as Tanjung Rambutan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hulu Kinta assemblyman Datuk Aminuddin Md Hanafiah said he had received complaints from villagers on the elephants that had encroached into their plantations.