Perhilitan Confirms 'Elephas Maximus' Elephant Killed Logging Worker In Gua Musang

GUA MUSANG, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- The Kelantan branch of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) confirmed that a logging worker found dead near the ‘rumah kongsi’ (workers’ quarters) in the Aring 8 logging area on Wednesday at midnight was attacked by a wild elephant of the Elephas maximus species.

Its director, Mohamad Hafid Rohani, said the department is conducting an investigation at the scene after receiving a report at around 9 am yesterday.

At 9.30 am, PERHILITAN staff, along with the police, went to the scene, which was in the area where Alam Jaya Industri Sdn Bhd was clearing the forest for a plantation, to investigate and confirm the incident at the plantation's rumah kongsi in the Lebir Permanent Forest Reserve here.

"The investigation results at the scene of the incident showed wildlife tracks and that the victim was attacked by the species in question," he said in a statement today.

He said that based on records of wildlife conflict complaints, PERHILITAN had never received a complaint from Alam Jaya Industri Sdn Bhd plantation before.

Mohamad Hafid said the plantation area and the company's rumah kongsi were newly opened and built by the company.

Meanwhile, from 2023 to 2025, PERHILITAN has captured and relocated a total of 64 'conflict' elephants in this state.

"The wild elephants that often cause human-elephant conflict in the area are from a group of elephants originating from the Lebir Forest Reserve, estimated to be around 30," he said.

He also said elephants from this group also frequently cause conflict in several locations such as Kampung Belia, Kampung Miak, Kampung Pasir Linggi, Kampung Rahmat, Kampung Sungai Bayu, Kampung Sungai Lakit, Kampung Kenangan and Kampung Mutiara.

-- BERNAMA