Malaysia: Marauding elephant caught

News Straits Times 12 Apr 13;

BALING: More than 100 villagers in Kampung Rambong Padang near here are relieved after state Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) managed to capture a male elephant which had been destroying their crops for the past four months.

Acting on complaints from the villagers, a team from the department together with Rela volunteers captured the pachyderm while it was roaming alone in a bush about 300m from the village at 11.30am on Wednesday.

Kedah Perhilitan director Razidan Md Yasin believed that the elephant came to the bush scavenging for food when it was captured.

"The elephant is from the Ulu Muda forest reserve which is about 10km away from the village.

"We believe there are another two elephants on the loose based on footprints found in the area.

"We will continue to monitor the area to prevent elephants from harassing the villagers."

Razidan also said the captured elephant would be relocated to another area this Saturday.

A 53-year-old villager said he felt relieved that one of the elephants roaming the area had been captured.

Alias Md Daud learned that some of his friends were suffering losses after their orchards were destroyed by the elephants.