JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor State Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) have captured three wild elephants believed to have caused conflicts in the Kota Tinggi district through operations at two separate locations, yesterday.
Its director Salman Saaban said the capture of two female elephants and a male was made following attacks that led to one death on July 27 and the viraled case of elephants gone berserk on July 31 where both incidents occurred at Kilometre (km) 9.6, Jalan Mawai.
He said the first capture involved a female elephant at Ladang REM Pasak at 12.30 pm, while another female elephant was captured at Ladang Felda Pasak at 5.30 pm, followed by a male elephant at the same location (Ladang Felda Pasak) at 7.15 pm.
According to Salman, the arrest was made by the PERHILITAN Johor Elephant Capture Unit in collaboration with the National Elephant Conservation Centre (PKGK) Kuala Gandah, Pahang involving 12 personnel who were divided into two groups.
“These wild elephants are part of the Panti (Forest Reserve) elephant herd which is causing conflicts around Kampung Mawai, Kampung Lukut, Kampung Sendayan, Kampung Temenin, Felda Pasak, Felda Gugusan Lok Heng, Felda Gugusan Waha and the surrounding areas.
“We will monitor the three elephants until they are relocated to a new habitat,“ he said in a statement, here, today.
He said the three wild elephants were healthy and active.
On July 27, a 56-year-old local security guard stationed at a sand mine at km 9.6, Jalan Mawai was found dead after being attacked by a wild elephant at 10.30 am.
A 52-year-old local woman managed to escape in the nick of time when her fruit stall was overran by wild elephants at the same place at 8 pm, on July 31. She suffered about RM1,000 in damages. -Bernama
