Orang Asli community relieved after male wild elephant captured

CAMERON HIGHLAND: The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) caught a male wild elephant in Kampung Bandar Satu, Pos Lenjang, Lipis, yesterday morning.

The capture has alleviated concerns among the Orang Asli residents of Kampung Bandar and surrounding settlements near Pos Lenjang, who have been troubled by a group of wild elephants regularly entering the village area.

Cameron Highlands member of parliament Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor said he had received reports about the wild elephants, which have been appearing in several villages around Pos Lenjang and the surrounding areas for over a month.

"The animals approached the residents' homes, searching for food and destroying crops, which are vital sources of income and security for the local community. This time, the capture (by Perhilitan) involved a wild elephant with a 0.30-metre footprint and tusks measuring 0.18 metres, found in a rubber plantation 30 metres away from a village house," he said on Facebook.

Meanwhile, a resident of Kampung Gening, who wishes to be known as Din, said the capture of one wild elephant was only temporary, as other elephants are still roaming the nearby forest areas close to the settlements at Pos Lenjang.

"Although one wild elephant has been captured, residents remain concerned and vigilant because others are still wandering the forests and rubber plantations near the village in search of food. They travel in groups of three to five and are often found wandering into the village from midnight until early morning, looking for food such as banana trees, young rubber trees, cassava, vegetables, jackfruit, and so on," he said.