Malaysia: Rogue elephant finally captured

New Straits Times 8 Nov 12;

JUMBO TROUBLE: Pachyderm on four-month crop destroying rampage meets its match

THE Kelantan Wildlife Department finally captured an elephant which had been destroying crops since July.

The department's director, Rahmat Topani said the male elephant, aged between 20 and 25, was captured by rangers about 3.30pm on Tuesday.

"The team, led by Mohammad Sallehuddin Yusoff, went out in search of the pachyderm after receiving reports it had entered a smallholding and destroyed plants belonging to villagers in one of the three areas it had been roaming for the past few months.

"They carried out six operations to find the elephant but failed. The seventh operation was held on Monday morning and ended the next day with its capture."

Rahmat said besides Kampung Cheker, the elephant had also destroyed crops at Kampung Bukit Yong and Kampung Gong Genor.

He said the jumbo, which had been named Awang Cheker, weighed between four and five tonnes and was the 12th captured by the department this year.

It is set to be sent to the National Park.

Captured female elephant dies of infection
Ivan Loh The Star 10 Feb 13;

IPOH: The female elephant captured near Kampung Jalong, Sungai Siput, on Thursday has died of a bacterial infection of the blood known as septicemia.

State Perhilitan director Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the elephant, aged between 15 to 20 years, was found lifeless at midnight yesterday.

“A post-mortem was conducted and we found that the elephant had been suffering from septicemia for some time,” he said.

Septicemia can be fatal if not treated.

The elephant matriarch, which was part of a herd of four, was captured by Perhilitan personnel after about four days of tracking the animals.

Kampung Jalong villagers had complained to Perhilitan on Monday that the elephants had destroyed their crops and vegetables.

Abdul Kadir said the elephant had looked sickly when Perhilitan personnel caught it.

He said they had tried to treat the sick elephant but were not able to save its life.

“We will bury its body to prevent the bacteria from spreading,” he added.

On the remaining three elephants, Abdul Kadir said they were still monitoring the forest for any sign of the animals.