The human-elephant conflict in this country has persisted for years. Despite ongoing efforts by authorities to mitigate the issue while safeguarding both elephants and people, encounters with these ‘gentle giants’ remain frequent.
The second part of this three-article report shares the narratives of those directly involved in the conflict.
GERIK, March 11 (Bernama) – While most people visit zoos to see wildlife, including elephants, villagers in this district and users of the East-West Highway (JRTB) Gerik-Jeli are accustomed to seeing these majestic creatures wandering along roadsides or venturing into villages and farms.
For first-time observers, seeing these wild animals in their natural habitat can be both thrilling and daunting. However, for villagers and farmers, the presence of these ‘gentle giants’ often results in the destruction of crops and property—an all-too-familiar ordeal for residents of Kampung Bandariang and Kampung Perah.
The hardest hit are rubber plantation owners in Kampung Tanjung Rimbun I and II, who have suffered significant losses as hundreds of young rubber trees have been ravaged by these ‘trunked intruders.’
Although the government provides compensation, it is insufficient to offset their financial losses. As a result, some farmers have been forced to give up and abandon their plantations altogether.
FRUIT SEASON ATTRACTS ELEPHANTS
Kampung Bandariang village chief, Ibrahim Che Wan, 62, said elephants have been disturbing plantations in Kampung Tanjung Rimbun I and II for the past two years.
“They come to eat and then topple the trees. So far, they haven't disturbed houses yet—only the crops,” he told Bernama.
Ibrahim, who cultivates banana and rubber plantations, noted that elephant intrusions often coincide with fruiting seasons.
“When it's dokong season, they strip the bark and push the trees down. If there are no dokong trees, they target rubber trees instead,” he said.
According to him, their only option is to report the incidents to the department of wildlife and national parks (Perhilitan).
“When there is a complaint, they (Perhilitan) will take action. As of October 2024, if I’m not mistaken, Perhilitan has already removed (relocated) 24 animals from Kampung Bandariang.
"RISDA (Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority) and Perhilitan have installed electric fences in plantations frequently disturbed by elephants, focusing on newly replanted farms, as these are the most targeted," he added.
He explained that farmers typically plant 640 rubber trees on a 1.6-hectare plot, but when elephants invade, more than 500 trees can be destroyed.
FARMERS’ WOES
Smallholder Muhammad Ghazali Nasia, 63, feels constant anxiety while tapping rubber trees on his 1.6-hectare plantation, which he has managed since 1995.
"I've never encountered an elephant myself, but I still feel scared because my farm was invaded last year. I planted 780 rubber trees, but they destroyed more than 500.
“When I reported it to Perhilitan, I received about RM3,000 in compensation, but it wasn’t enough to cover my losses, as I earn around RM100 per day from the trees," he said.
Muhammad Hisham Shamsuddin, 47, who once managed a durian orchard in Kampung Tanjung Rimbun II, has since abandoned his farm after an elephant intrusion last year.
“I bought 0.5 hectares of land for about RM40,000 in 2020. Then, I planted 70 Musang King and Black Thorn durian saplings. After four years, the elephants came—and that was the end of my farm. Now, only four or five trees remain.
"I lost hundreds of thousands of ringgit, including the cost of fertiliser, pesticides, and labour. My entire savings were wiped out. If things had gone as planned, I would have started harvesting in 2026," shared Hisham, who now works as a rubber tapper.
Meanwhile, Hermy Hasan, 42, a rubber plantation owner in Kampung Tanjung Rimbun I, said elephant disturbances in the village began in 2015.
"Before, they would destroy trees and then return to the forest. But between 2019 and 2020, they started destroying trees and settling in the area. Replanting became pointless—we’d plant, watch the trees grow for five years, only for the elephants to come and knock them down—two acres gone. The same happened to fruit orchards.
"We desperately need a long-term solution," said Hermy, who planted 1,200 rubber trees in 2016 but now has fewer than 200 remaining.
"For the past year or two, I haven’t planted anything because there’s no point—just look at what’s happening here," he added. Hermy now lives in Kampung Perah.
Another rubber plantation owner, Abdullah Abdul Latiff, 52, said wild elephants have become increasingly aggressive over the past five years.
Having managed a rubber farm since 1997, Abdullah originally planted 3,000 trees across 3.27 hectares, but only 50 trees remain today.
"I'm still working on my farm, but not as seriously as before. If I didn’t tap rubber on other people’s farms, my income would be severely affected," said Abdullah, who estimates his losses at nearly RM60,000.
He also frequently encounters elephants.
“If I return late, I’ll definitely see them. But so far, nothing bad has happened—sometimes, when elephants see us, they run away," said Abdullah, who typically enters his farm at 8 am and returns around 5 pm.
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY ALSO TROUBLED
The Orang Asli villages have not been spared from elephant attacks.
According to Tok Batin Abdul Rahman Hasan, 45, the headman of Kampung Orang Asli Cenawing in Bandariang, villagers have been cultivating rubber plantations since 2008, but elephants only started becoming a problem about five years ago.
"I used to have 1,400 rubber trees, but now only 800 remain due to elephant disturbances. Elephants love to eat the bark of rubber trees because the sap is sweet—they completely strip the trees.
"I have cleared and replanted the land myself, but my personal losses amount to around RM10,000. If we consider all affected villagers, the total losses are about RM80,000," he said.
He has applied for assistance from RISDA, the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), and the state government to secure funding for electric fencing around their farms.
"In the past, when we burned old clothes to make torches, elephants would run away—but not anymore. We believe these elephants might be coming from other states like Kelantan and Pahang, where they are not afraid of humans. That’s why now, when they see us, they actually follow us," he explained.
JRTB GERIK-JELI HIGHWAY USERS SHARE TIPS ON ENCOUNTERING ELEPHANTS
Roslan Hashim, 64, a regular user of the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway (JRTB), has been travelling the route for 44 years to do business in Pulau Banding.
"I'm used to seeing elephants along the road. It usually happens between 7 am to 8 am or after 5 pm. If you see one, you have to stop. So far, my car hasn’t been disturbed, but I have been chased before," said Roslan, who lives in the area.
He claims he can now "read" elephant body language.
"If an elephant raises its ears and trunk, it means it's angry. But if its trunk and ears are moving normally, that means it’s safe for vehicles to pass," he said.
Roslan added that most elephants along the JRTB Gerik-Jeli highway do not actually pose a threat to road users.
Translated by Salbiah Said
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