‘ELEPHANTS STRAYED FROM HERD’
It is not because of rampant logging, says Wildlife Department
THE state Wildlife Department yesterday denied that wild elephants had entered village areas because of rampant logging in jungles.
State Wildlife director Mohd Hasdi Husin said the department believed that the elephants had lost their way after being separated from their herds.
“Our investigations found that the majority of the five elephants we captured this year had strayed from their habitat and could not find their way back (to the jungle),” he said yesterday.
He said this when asked whether rampant logging contributed to the rising number of elephants caught by the department this year.
Hasdi said five elephants were captured by the department’s rangers since early this year, with the latest being on Monday.
He said a male elephant was captured in Taman Wangi near Gua Musang after it was found roaming near the Gua Musang fire station.
He said the jumbo was believed to have come out from the jungle near Gunung Rabong and had been roaming the area for several hours before he was captured.
“The male jumbo, weighing about one tonne, is believed to be between 12 and 15 years old.
“It will be sent to Kuala Gandah, in Pahang, as soon as possible,” he added.
Hasdi said three of the five elephants were captured in Gua Musang, while the other two were captured in Jeli.