Malaysia: Authorities on hunt for elephant which attacked Kelantan farmer

Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah New Straits Times 17 Aug 18;

KOTA BARU: An elephant which attacked a man at his farm in Laloh, Kuala Krai on Wednesday is believed to be a member of a herd of 12 pachyderms dubbed ‘Gajah Sungai Rek.’

In the incident, Norshahrin Bakar, 40 and his nephew, Norshahrin Che Ibrahim, 38, were collecting durian when they encountered the pachyderm.

The female elephant charged at Norshahrin, but he escaped by climbing a durian tree. He suffered minor injuries and was rushed to the Kuala Krai Hospital.

"Our rangers began their operation to track down the elephant soon after we received a report on the incident.

"However, until yesterday, they have failed to find her as it is believed she has escaped back into the jungle," Kelantan Wildlife director Mohd Hasdi Husin told NSTP today.

He added that the department received 87 complaints on elephant rampages in the state since early this year.

Mohd Hasdi said that Jeli recorded the highest number of incidents with 49 complaints, followed by Gua Musang (18) and Kuala Krai (10).

"Five elephants have been captured so far and all were in Jeli," he added.