JELI (Bernama): The Kelantan branch of the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) has captured seven wild elephants in Kampung Lawar here after the mammals started encroaching on villagers' farms last month.

       Kelantan Perhilitan director Ady Ermanty Haniff Mohamed Hanif said the animals were captured on Sept 7, 8 and 10 following reports from villagers, who came across a herd of wild elephants roaming their farms.

       He said the operation to capture and relocate the seven mammals, aged between three and 30 years old, was carried out to prevent further losses to the villagers, which are currently estimated at RM90,100, apart from ensuring the safety of the animals.

       "On Sept 7 and 8, Kelantan Perhilitan's Elephant Capture Unit and members of the Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre (NECC) in Pahang, captured three male elephants and two female elephants in the farms,” he said Monday (Sept 13).

       He said two other male elephants were caught at the same location on Sept 10.

       "This herd of wild elephants is believed to be from the same group that was captured near Kampung Bukit Ipoh, Jeli, last month.

       "They were believed to have come out of the Gunung Basor Permanent Forest Reserve (HSK) to find food sources, and the population of wild elephants inhabiting the forest reserve is estimated to be more than 30,” he said.

       Ady Ermanty said following the capture, two decoy elephants from PKGK, namely Abot and Rambai, were used to assist the wild elephant relocation operation which was carried out for two days (Sept 11 and 12) to release them back to their natural habitat in Taman Negara Kelantan-Terengganu-Pahang. - Bernama