KOTA BHARU: The Kelantan Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) captured a wild elephant and a sun bear in Kuala Krai on Thursday (Sept 6).
State Perhilitan director Mohamad Hafid Rohani said the wild bull elephant was captured in Kampung Gua Ikan, while the sun bear was caught in Kampung Sungai Pas.
“The elephant was captured by the Kelantan Elephant Capture Unit (UTG) at 11am yesterday following a complaint from villagers.
The sun bear was trapped at 5.30pm in a location where we had set up a trap,” Mohamad Hafid said in a statement on Saturday (Sept 7).
He added that the elephant’s capture was part of an ongoing effort to address repeated complaints about six wild elephants roaming in the area.
Mohamad Hafid said continuous monitoring is being conducted at the capture site until the elephant is successfully relocated.
“Relocating wild elephants from foraging areas is not a long-term solution, especially since the village is near the Serasa Permanent Forest Reserve, which is the natural habitat of these elephants,” he said.
The sun bear is believed to have wandered from the nearby Kampung Sungai Rek forest reserve, located 5km from where it was captured.
The bear was relocated on the same day and would be released into Terengganu National Park.
Mohamad Hafid advised the public to exercise caution and avoid taking independent action when encountering wild animals, as it could pose a danger to themselves. – Bernama
