More wild elephants rampaging Orang Asli plantations in Gua Musang

GUA MUSANG: Over 300 Orang Asli residents in Kampung Aring 5, here are living in fear with the presence of four wild elephants in their residential area since last week.

Village head Raina Anjang said the animals have been destroying their banana and rubber trees, with the latest incident occurred at 2 am today.

"Today's incident is the 10th incident in two years period. Our banana trees which have just bear fruits were destroyed by the animals that roam the area between 11 pm and 4 am every day," he told reporters when met at the village today.

Raina said villagers have been using various methods to chase the herd of elephants away including lighting up oil lamps around the banana and rubber plantations but to no avail.

A villager, Alik Along, 56, said wild elephant threats were not new to the village and he had to bear the losses this time when many of his banana trees were destroyed by the animals.

He said the Orang Asli community was encouraged to plant banana and rubber trees as their source of income, but they were worried about having to bear other losses if there is no solution to the problem.

"We are looking at a more effective way to overcome wild elephant threats so that we can enjoy the income from our plantations," he said.

-- BERNAMA