Kuala lumpur: The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) today successfully relocated a male elephant believed to have frequently encroached into orchards and residential areas around Kampung Pulau Setelu here. Kelantan Perhilitan director Wan Mohd Adib Wan Yusoh said the tusked male elephant is estimated to be between 15 and 18 years old.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the operation involved 19 personnel, including those from the National Elephant Conservation Centre in Sungai Deka, Terengganu, and Kuala Gandah, Pahang. The elephant, named 'Awang Tar Setelu', was captured on July 23 and was successfully coaxed out today with the assistance of two female decoy elephants, Suria and Indah. The operation began at 9 am today and concluded four hours later. The elephant will be released into its natural habitat.

Kampung Pulau Setelu resident Zakaria Omar, 62, said they have been facing the threat of wild elephants for the past several years and have suffered losses to crops, including oil palm, bananas, and Musang King durians. Some elephants have even ventured as close as two to four metres from residents' houses, forcing them to remain constantly vigilant whenever they leave their homes.

Meanwhile, Mukim Bertam Barat federal village development and security committee (JPKKP) chairman Mokhtar Dahari Ibrahim said the capture of the wild elephant has brought relief to more than 1,000 residents. After nearly two weeks of Perhilitan personnel being stationed there, the operation to relocate the wild elephant to another habitat was finally successful. The residents are relieved that the elephant has been captured, and they hope no other elephants will come to the village. Mokhtar thanked Perhilitan for working tirelessly and showing full commitment to removing the wild elephant from their village.