T.N. Alagesh New Straits Times 16 Oct 12;
IN SAFE HANDS: Wildlife dept sends year-old animal believed from a herd in a nearby forest to Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary
TEMERLOH: A BABY elephant, which was found roaming alone in a plantation near Mentelong forest in Rompin last week, will be the latest attraction at Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary in Lanchang near here.
The year-old female calf is now the youngest mammal at the sanctuary, which currently has a total of 28 elephants aged up to 70.
The oldest is Lokimala, a female elephant which arrived at the sanctuary in 1978 to help in the relocation of wild elephants.
Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) elephant unit head Nasaruddin Othman said when the rangers spotted the calf there were no adult elephants in sight and checks revealed that the confused animal had been roaming the area for more than two weeks.
"We believe that the calf may have come from a big herd from the nearby forest.
"It may have lost its way after failing to keep up with the group," he said yesterday.
Nasaruddin said several plantation workers who had spotted the animal, alerted the state Perhilitan.
"Due to its young age and unfamiliarity with the surroundings, the team from the elephant sanctuary did not face much problem in tracking down the animal and catching it."
Weighing about 200kg and 1.2m tall, the calf was later brought out of the plantation on a tractor before a one-tonne lorry was used to transport it to the sanctuary on Friday.
Despite a tiring four-hour journey from Rompin, the calf appeared joyful as it was fed with papayas and given full attention by the caretakers at the sanctuary.
Nasaruddin said the calf was healthy and had been placed with other elephants at the sanctuary.
The young elephant was lucky as it was not caught in a nylon or wire snare which was usually laid by poachers to trap other wild and endangered animals in the area.
In 2007, the elephant unit rescued a seven-year-old female elephant, which was later named Selendang, after her front foot was caught in a steel cable snare set for wild boars by poachers in Rompin. Selendang's foot was later amputated and replaced with a prosthetic limb.
