Arya News - The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) said Sulong was moved on Wednesday (Sept 2) through the Tasik Kenyir entrance to an area with suitable natural forest habitat for elephants.
IPOH – An adult wild male elephant known as “Sulong”, whose presence along the East-West Highway attracted public attention, has been safely relocated to the Terengganu National Park.
The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) said Sulong was moved on Wednesday (Sept 2) through the Tasik Kenyir entrance to an area with suitable natural forest habitat for elephants.
“The translocation was carried out to provide Sulong with a safer environment while reducing the risk of human-elephant conflict and road accidents,” Perhilitan said in a statement on Wednesday.
Perhilitan said it had been closely monitoring Sulong’s movements and physical condition since Aug 17, including its injured right leg.
“As an adult male elephant, Sulong’s solitary movement is natural behaviour and does not indicate that it had become separated from its herd or is searching for its family.
“Following assessments of Sulong’s safety, location and health, a recapture operation was successfully conducted on Aug 30 along the highway area in Gerik.
“The elephant was subsequently translocated on Sept 1 with the support of the police and the assistance of two trained elephants, Rambai and Cheri, before it was safely sent to the national park,” the statement added.
Perhilitan said Sulong received continuous monitoring and veterinary treatment throughout the operation.
“The injury to its right leg is showing positive improvement and follow-up treatment will continue based on the assessment of the veterinary officer,” it said.
The department stressed that Sulong’s welfare, as well as the safety of the public and personnel involved in the operation, remained its top priority.