Perhilitan relocates 25 elephants to reduce human-wildlife conflict
The operation, running from this month until July next year, prioritises Johor as the first state for relocation efforts.
Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim stated that the programme aims to manage human-elephant conflicts more systematically.
'The operation targets elephant herds that frequently encroach on farms, villages, and residential areas, ensuring safer coexistence between wildlife and communities,' he said during the Johor launch.
The translocation involves collaboration with the Elephant Transfer Team from the National Elephant Conservation Centre (NECC) in Kuala Gandah, Pahang, along with wildlife teams from Perak, Kelantan, and Terengganu. Johor Perhilitan leads as the primary coordinator.
Advanced technology, including drone surveillance and digital movement mapping, will enhance safety and efficiency.
Abdul Kadir emphasised that the initiative supports ecosystem restoration by controlling elephant populations outside natural habitats while collecting scientific data for future conservation policies.
From 2020 to 2024, Perhilitan recorded 4,919 human-elephant conflict incidents, causing estimated losses of RM39.4 million, primarily in Johor, Kelantan, Perak, and Pahang.
Currently, around 1,300 wild elephants roam Peninsular Malaysia.
The programme aligns with national strategies such as the National Elephant Conservation Action Plan (NECAP) and the National Policy on Biological Diversity 2022–2030.
Abdul Kadir also acknowledged the Johor state government's RM600,000 funding, reinforcing its commitment to wildlife conservation. - Bernama
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The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Special ops to translocate elephants begins in Johor
Mammoth move: Ling (left) petting an elephant that was brought in for the launch of the operation in Johor. Looking on are Abdul Kadir (centre) and Vidyananthan. KLUANG: The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) has launched a special operation to translocate about 25 elephants across Peninsular Malaysia as part of its effort to address human-elephant conflicts, says its director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim. He said Johor – one of the states most affected by the conflict – would be the first state to carry out the operation. 'The operation officially begins this month, with Johor being the first state to carry it out with the support of about 30 Perhilitan officers from across the peninsula. 'It will then continue in other states affected by the conflict, and we expect to translocate about 25 wild elephants by July next year,' he said, adding that Johor Perhilitan will coordinate the operation. He said this after the launch of the Johor Elephant Translocation Operation here yesterday. Also present were Johor health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon, Kahang assemblyman R. Vidyananthan and Johor Perhilitan director Aminuddin Jamin. Abdul Kadir added that the operation would involve the Elephant Capture Unit from the National Elephant Conservation Centre in Kuala Gandah as well as other agencies. 'One of the main objectives of the operation is to reduce elephant conflicts in high-risk areas systematically. It will also help us identify and relocate elephant groups that are actively disturbing agricultural areas, villages and residential zones. 'We also hope to collect scientific data through this operation to improve policies for managing wild elephants,' he said. He added that between 2020 and 2024, Perhilitan received 4,920 elephant-human related complaints. 'This led to losses amounting to about RM39.4mil with Johor, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak and Terengganu being the most affected states,' Abdul Kadir said. Meanwhile, Ling said nearly 700 complaints related to human-elephant conflicts in the state have been reported to Johor Perhilitan in the last five years. This is a serious issue, especially in the Kluang, Kota Tinggi, Mersing and Segamat districts, he said. 'In fact, in the first six months of this year alone, human-elephant conflicts have caused losses amounting to about RM1.1mil. 'While Johor Perhilitan has been actively conducting translocation operations annually, its workforce is not enough to cope with the high number of complaints. 'As such, we have reached out to the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry for assistance, which has led to the launch of the special translocation operation,' he said. Ling added the operation in Johor, which is being carried out from this month until December, was expected to translocate between 10 and 12 elephants. 'With this new operation, which is receiving support from Perhilitan officers from across Peninsular Malaysia, we expect to double that number,' he said. To support the effort, Ling said the state government had also channelled RM600,000 from its Ecological Fiscal Transfers fund for the operation. 'Johor is the only state that has made such an allocation, which shows our commitment to addressing the issue,' he added.
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Human-elephant conflicts cause RM1.1mil losses in Johor
KLUANG: Close to 700 complaints related to human-elephant conflicts have been reported to the Johor Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) over the past five years, says state executive councillor Ling Tian Soon. The Johor health and environment committee chairman said the most affected districts included Kluang, Kota Tinggi, Mersing and Segamat. "This is a serious issue in Johor. In the first six months of this year alone, human-elephant conflicts have caused losses amounting to about RM1.1mil. "While Johor Perhilitan has been actively conducting translocation operations annually, the manpower they have is not enough to cope with the high number of complaints. "As such, we have reached out to the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry for assistance, which has led to the launch of a special translocation operation," he said. He said this to reporters after launching the Johor Elephant Translocation Operation here on Monday (July 14). Ling added that the operation, which is being carried out from this month until December, is expected to translocate between 10 and 12 elephants. "In the first six months, Johor Perhilitan managed to relocate five elephants with the limited resources and manpower it has. "With this new operation, which is receiving support from Perhilitan officers from across Peninsular Malaysia, we expect to double that number," he said. To support the effort, Ling said the state government has also channelled RM600,000 from its Ecological Fiscal Transfers (EFT) fund for the operation. "Johor is the only state that has ever made such an allocation, and this shows our commitment to addressing the issue," he said.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Perhilitan relocates 25 elephants to reduce human-wildlife conflict
KLUANG: The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) has initiated an Integrated Elephant Translocation Operation to move 25 elephants from high-risk conflict zones in Peninsular Malaysia. The operation, running from this month until July next year, prioritises Johor as the first state for relocation efforts. Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim stated that the programme aims to manage human-elephant conflicts more systematically. 'The operation targets elephant herds that frequently encroach on farms, villages, and residential areas, ensuring safer coexistence between wildlife and communities,' he said during the Johor launch. The translocation involves collaboration with the Elephant Transfer Team from the National Elephant Conservation Centre (NECC) in Kuala Gandah, Pahang, along with wildlife teams from Perak, Kelantan, and Terengganu. Johor Perhilitan leads as the primary coordinator. Advanced technology, including drone surveillance and digital movement mapping, will enhance safety and efficiency. Abdul Kadir emphasised that the initiative supports ecosystem restoration by controlling elephant populations outside natural habitats while collecting scientific data for future conservation policies. From 2020 to 2024, Perhilitan recorded 4,919 human-elephant conflict incidents, causing estimated losses of RM39.4 million, primarily in Johor, Kelantan, Perak, and Pahang. Currently, around 1,300 wild elephants roam Peninsular Malaysia. The programme aligns with national strategies such as the National Elephant Conservation Action Plan (NECAP) and the National Policy on Biological Diversity 2022–2030. Abdul Kadir also acknowledged the Johor state government's RM600,000 funding, reinforcing its commitment to wildlife conservation. - Bernama
