Dungun: The Terengganu Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) has successfully captured an adult male sun bear that was seen roaming in Kampung Padang Ping, near here, yesterday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the director of Perhilitan, Dennis Ten Choon Yung, stated that information regarding the sun bear's presence was received from residents at 8 am yesterday. Subsequently, the Dungun district Wildlife Department team arrived at the location around 9.30 am to monitor the animal. The bear, weighing between 50 and 70 kilograms, was trapped by a device set by Perhilitan in the village on Monday.

The director noted that physical monitoring determined the bear was in good health and uninjured. The relocation operation began at 10 am, and the bear was transported to the Dungun Wildlife Department office before being released back into its original habitat. The nearest protected forest area to the village is the Jerangau Forest Reserve.

Meanwhile, Nik Othman Nik Muhamad, the chairman of the Kampung Padang Ping Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK), expressed that more than 300 residents in the village were relieved after the bear was captured. The bear had been roaming the village for the past week, causing concern among residents about their safety, especially during their gardening activities.

It was also reported that the bear had caused damage to trees and fruits in the residents' gardens before its capture. It is believed that the animal ventured out from the nearby forest in search of food.