Locals claim herd of elephants and troop of macaques wreaking havoc on village

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Villagers in the Hulu Terengganu area of Malaysia’s east coast have complained that a herd of elephants is destroying their community’s flora and fauna over the last week, having ventured out of their jungle.

Apparently led by the matriarch in the herd, they have been destroying banana trees, betel nut palms, and farming plots in and around Kampung Basung late at night.

Alarmed by how close the animals have come to their homes, sometimes as close as 10 meters, locals say that this is the first time that the animals have made their way from the jungle. Many are living in fear of being attacked by the elephants, should they venture out at night.

It is believed that the elephants crossed the nearby Telemong River, and entered into the residential area.

According to a local business owner, who spoke to New Straits Times, the herd know what’s good:

“I believe the fruit season is also one of the reasons why the animals encroached into orchards in the village.

“Durian, duku and dokong are in season now and we also encounter short-tailed macaques in large numbers.

“I am not sure if this is the same herd that destroyed palm trees along the Pengkalan Gawi road a few months back. They do not seem to fear humans and that’s why we are scared.”

Wildlife authorities have been called, and the National Parks Department has confirmed that a herd has indeed been terrorizing locals. Rangers are currently trying to locate the herd, and return them to the jungle from whence they came.

While Malaysian elephants comprise of only about 5% of the Asian elephant population, they are highly concentrated in numbers in Malaysia’s Taman Negara.

The majestic animals “can do surprisingly well in disturbed environments such as secondary or selectively-logged forests … [and] traditional agricultural landscapes,” according to environmentalists that work with the local wildlife authorities.

Predilections for mosaic forests has meant that conflict with humans is not unheard of, and they are known for raiding crops, making significant damage, and ranking second after wild boars by farmers when asked about their most troublesome animals.

There you have it: Elephants – not just for NOT riding, they’re also the rabble-rousers of the jungle community.



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