PERHILITAN CAPTURES WILD ELEPHANT IN BESUT

JERTIH, March 9 (Bernama) -- Officers from the Terengganu Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) today captured a wild elephant in Kampung Pasir Akar, Hulu Besut, near here, after tracking it since Thursday (March 5).

Its director, Dennis Ten Choon Yung, said they captured the elephant at about 9 am after receiving reports from villagers of a male elephant roaming around Kampung Keruak here and posing a threat to safety.

“Following the report, Perhilitan launched an operation to capture the elephant on the same day. After tracking it for several days, our officers finally captured it near Kampung Pasir Akar today.

“The elephant, which has a footprint size of 40.6 centimetres, is in stable and healthy condition,” he said when contacted by Bernama today, adding that Perhilitan officers would continue to monitor the elephant closely before relocating it.

Meanwhile, villagers expressed relief at the capture, saying that it had damaged crops and raised safety concerns.

Kampung Pasir Akar resident Zainudin Yusof, 59, said the elephant entered his compound through the main gate before leaving through the back gate last night.

“At about 11 pm, I found my back gate broken after being rammed by the elephant. I feel relieved now that Perhilitan has captured it,” he said, adding that his house is located not far from where the elephant was captured.

-- BERNAMA