(MY) hungry elephant

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Tuesday January 3, 2006 - The Star

 

Villagers fear hungry elephant

 

BALING: Folks in Kampung Padang Rambong, about 10km from here, are

being terrorised by a hungry elephant, which is believed to have

wandered off from its herd in Kuak Hulu in Perak.

 

For the past 12 days, the elephant had been sighted several times when

it wandered close to the village, ravishing the bananas grown by the

villagers.

 

Villager Mohamad Abdul Rahman, 35, who lives on the fringe of the

village said residents had spotted the elephant between 9pm and 3am

several times.

 

" The elephant, weighing about three tonnes, comes out in the night to

look for food. It is drawn to the abundance of banana trees planted by

the villagers.

 

" We're quite worried in case it goes on a rampage when there are no

more bananas or suitable vegetation. We hope the relevant authorities

will catch it soon, " he said last Sunday.

 

Kedah Wildlife and National Parks Department director Rahim Ahmad said

the elephant, which is desperate and lost, posed a danger to the

villagers.

 

He said the Kupang Wildlife and National Parks office had been

instructed to keep vigil between 9pm and 6am daily to ensure the

animal did not venture into the village.

 

" The office in Kupang has been told not to harm the animal but to

scare it away from the village until we're able to get help from the

Elephant Management Unit in Kuala Gandah, Pahang, to catch the

elephant, " he told The Star.

 

He said the elephant was believed to have wandered off from the Kuak

Hulu forest where there is an elephant colony.

 

" Once caught, the elephant will be released at either the Pahang

National Park or Lake Kenyir, " he added.

 

Rahim urged villagers not to provoke the elephant and to alert the

Kupang Wildlife and National Parks Department at 04-4766595 if they

came across it.