Malaysia: Wild jumbo puts up fight

New Straits Times 25 May 13;

KUANTAN: An aggressive 20-year-old male elephant put up a fierce fight during a relocation attempt by the Pahang Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) at Kampung Seberang Kawah, here, yesterday.

Despite having been shot with three tranquilliser darts, the 2,500kg animal still thrashed around, forcing two elephant guides -- Kala and Rambai -- to take nearly an hour to coax their counterpart out of the jungle before it was loaded onto a waiting lorry.

State Perhilitan director Khairiah Mohd Shariff praised the efficiency of the conservation centre's staff, who were assisted by the state Elite Elephant Capture Unit. The operation was completed around 1.30pm.

"This operation was among the most challenging ones that the department has encountered.

"It is due to the elephant's size and aggressive behaviour, coupled with the wet and slippery ground where the operation was carried out."

Khairiah said this was the third elephant capture-and-relocation operation carried out by the department this year.

It is preceded by a similar operation in the forest areas of Kemasul and Lanchang, Temerloh, earlier this year.

"It is understood that there are another five or six elephants, which are split into two groups, wandering in the jungle areas of Kampung Seberang Kawah and Kampung Seberang Kolek, here.

"These animals have caused damage to the oil palm plantations and fruit orchards in both villages."

She added that the department was now focused on tracking the elephants for relocation purposes.

Khairiah said it was hoped that the capture and relocation of the latest elephant would lead to a decrease in elephant excursions into settlements here, as the pachyderm is believed to be the pack leader of a herd that used to roam actively in the forests of Sungai Lembing.

"I advise the people of Kampung Seberang Kawah and Kampung Seberang Kolek to immediately contact Perhilitan should their plantations continue to be damaged by elephants that are still roaming in those areas."

Khairiah added that the mammal would be relocated to the Elephant Training Centre in Pengkalan Gawi in Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu.

Meanwhile, regarding a separate incident, Kampung Batu Enam village chief Abdullah Taib, 46, said residents were grateful to Perhilitan for acting quickly and capturing an elephant after receiving their complaints.

A team of rangers from the Kuala Gandah Elephant Unit caught the male elephant on May 12.