Wild elephant kills farmer in Sungai Bayu

GUA MUSANG - A farmer was killed by an elephant in an incident at the Upayapadu Plantation, Sungai Bayu, here yesterday.

The deceased, an Indonesian national identified as Sandra Kirana Sinaga, 39, was reportedly attacked by a wild elephant of the Elephas Maximus species.

Kelantan Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) Director Mohamad Hafid Rohani said that they received the incident report at 10pm from the Upayapadu Plantation Management Berhad, Sungai Bayu.

"Based on our investigation, we believe that the wild elephants involved in conflicts in the Upayapadu Plantation belong to a group estimated to be around 30, originating from the Lebir Forest Reserve.

"At the same time, the elephants from this group have caused conflicts in several locations, such as Kampung Belia, Miak, Pasir Linggi, Rahmat, Sungai Bayu, Sungai Lakit, Kenangan, and Mutiara," he said.

Hafid said apart from the Upayapadu Plantation, surrounding farm areas like CT Dragon, NH Timber, SLST, UPSB, Fauzi Lim, Pantas, NYS Timber, Maju Jaya KK Timber, Teroka Tuah, Gemalai Plantation, Felda Aring 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8, Melati Aman, Estate Havea, and JFL also faced the same threat.

He said that their records showed 12 reports of wild elephant disturbances from 2019 to 2023 in the said plantation and its surrounding areas.

Hafid said that they took various measures, including investigation, monitoring, security control, and advisory services.

"From 2019 to 2023, we have successfully captured and relocated a total of 90 conflict elephants in Kelantan.

"We have proactively taken steps to reduce human-elephant conflicts in the involved areas through various actions, including control, monitoring, advisory services, and relocation," he said.

He urged plantation owners to practice good farming methods such as installing the Elephant Electric Fence System (SPEG), creating elephant ditches, and not leaving uncultivated areas in a bushy state.

Furthermore, he emphasised the need to immediately report any wildlife disturbances to the Perhilitan hotline at 1-800-88-5151 or through the e-complaint feature on the website www.wildlife.gov.my.

Meanwhile, Gua Musang District Police Chief, Superintendent Sik Choon Foo, confirmed receiving a report regarding the incident when contacted.