JELI: The state Wildlife Department has captured an elephant in Kampung Sungai Long, here, on Tuesday.
Its director Mohamad Hafid Rohani said the male elephant was caught after the department received several complaints from villagers who sighted the elephant roaming in their village.
"Following the report, we deployed seven rangers to the scene and managed to capture the elephant on the same day," he said in a statement today.
Hafid said the department hopes the capture of the elephant would reduce the losses suffered by villagers whose crops have been destroyed by the jumbo.
He said the elephant would be relocated to a suitable habitat soon.
"The relocation exercise will be conducted by staff from Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre in Lanchang, Pahang," he added.
The department, he said, has taken action to reduce possible conflicts in the area by advising villagers on how to adopt mitigative measures.
"The public is advised to be extra cautious and alert if they encounter wild animals, and to avoid actions that could harm themselves," he said.
Any complaints or information regarding wild animals can be channelled to Perhilitan via the department's hotline at 1-800-88-5151 or the e-aduan channel on www.wildlife.gov.my.