GUA MUSANG: Over 2,000 residents of three Orang Asli settlements, Pos Belatim, Pos Bihai and Pos Gob, are living in fear as their villages have been encroached on by a wild elephant since last week.
Resident Rahimi Dolah, 45, from Pos Belatim, said his vegetable plots in Kampung Chachuh had been destroyed several times by the elephant, and he fears the animal would go to another village.
"The distance between my house and my farm is just 1km and I did not hear any noise when the farm was destroyed by the elephant, because it often happens at night.
"I am worried about the safety of the villagers here because the elephant is still roaming the area, and it is not impossible that it could move to other villages," he said when met by reporters here today.
Kamal Padek, 43, of Pos Bihai, said the wild elephant initially entered their settlement for food, but it rampaged through the farm, which is located a mere 100m away from the settlement.
"On Monday, an elephant encroached into the village to eat tapioca planted near the house. We drove it away, but it came back during the night.
"The elephant not only eats tapioca and bananas, but also damages the saplings of coconut trees and rubber trees," he added.
Angah Along, 60, hoped the Department of Orang Asli Development and Wildlife and National Parks Department would address this matter.
"It is unlikely that this elephant will move to another place because it has found food here. I hope the authorities will help us very soon," he said.
Meanwhile, Galas assemblyman, Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim, said the conflict between elephants and humans should not be allowed to continue and that the authorities should implement temporary security measures, such as setting up elephant repellent lamps or campfires, to prevent elephants from damaging more crops. – Bernama