GERIK: The state Wildlife and National Parks Department has captured 14 elephants disturbing residents in Tanjung Rimbun, Kampung Batu 6, Bandariang, since last Sunday (Sept 1).
These elephants are now set to undergo the relocation process.
The department's director Yusoff Shariff said four elephants were successfully captured on Friday, with another 10 were captured on Wednesday.
He said conflicts with a herd of elephants roaming the village began earlier this year.
"The 14 elephants captured this time do not include the six elephants that were previously captured between April and June in the same area," he said when contacted last night (Sept 7).
Yusoff said the relocation operation for the elephants, which was scheduled to last six days from last Thursday to Tuesday, might be extended due to the additional four elephants captured on Friday (Sept 6).
"Typically, the maximum number for a single relocation process is three elephants. Therefore, it might take up to five trips.
"All the captured elephants will be moved to a suitable habitat," he said.
As of yesterday, he said six elephants had been relocated, with three elephants successfully relocated on Friday and another three on Saturday.
"This operation is the largest for Perak for this year. The herd from the ID Belum area has been under observation for several months following complaints from residents in the Bandariang area," he said.
He said a total of 27 personnel from the department and Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre were involved in the operation, along with assistance from trained elephants; Abot and Rambai to facilitate the operation.