A male elephant named Awang Perah was caught in Kampung Perah here Thursday and was transferred to the Perak Royal Forest Reserve with the help of  Wildlife Protection Department today.

A total of 15 officers from the Perak Wildlife and NAtional Parks Department  and the Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Center (PKGK) in Pahang took almost four hours to move the two-tonne elephant.

Perak Wildlife Department director Yusoff Shariff said the mammalian translocation  process was carried out after receiving complaints of elephant disturbance and damage to banana and rubber crops on February 1.

“The animal tracking operation was carried out by the Gerik Elephant Action Unit (UTG).

Yusoff said the 18 to 20-year-old elephant translocation process was assisted by two elephants named Abot and Rambai brought from the CPGK.

“The elephant was the first to be caught this year and released into its original habitat at the Royal Belum Forest Reserve. According to records, no elephants were released before they disappeared into the area.

Meanwhile, Kampung Perak Village Community Management Council (MPKK) chairman Embi Razalli said the presence of the elephant had affected the villagers, especially those who were gardening and tapping rubber.

“This incident is common but in the nearby woods just this time, the elephant crossed the river and entered the village.

“We advise the residents not to take their own actions and instead contact the Emergency Department. We are worried about an unexpected event and thankfully everything is safe, ”he said.

"Every time we go down the tapping we always have extra precautions when a footprint or tree is destroyed. Let's hurry to work and go home, "he said.