Elephant attack forces Orang Asli families to leave homes

Nine of the 15 Orang Asli families of the Temiar tribe in Kampung Bujuk, Pos Bihai, have been forced to leave their homes after wild elephants damaged their dwellings and their crops.

A resident of Kampung Bujuk, Asu Pandak, 65, said he and his family were now seeking shelter at a relative’s house in Kampung Tendrik, Pos Bihai, as their bamboo home was damaged by wild elephants.

“The elephants intruded into our village at about 5am last Wednesday. We were sleeping and lucky to be awakened by the noise of the rampaging elephants, enabling us to save ourselves and flee to the nearby village.

“Prior to this, the elephants had also intruded into human habitat and damaged our crops such as bananas and cassava,” he told reporters today.

In addition to Kampung Bujuk, residents of Kampung Hak, another Orang Asli settlement at Pos Bihai, are also facing the threat of wild elephants.

Also affected by the elephant attacks are residents of Kampung Hak, another Orang Asli settlement in Pos Bihai.

One of the residents, Apek Asud, 39, said the latest incident happened yesterday, during which the elephants damaged a house.

Luckily, the occupants managed to get out of the house and run for their lives, he added.

He said the intrusion of wild elephants into human habitat and the sighting of tigers are threatening the livelihood of the 52 residents in the two villages.

“How can we go out to earn a living? We just don’t know who to turn to anymore. We appeal to the authorities concerned to please find a way to solve the problem.

“Don’t let something untoward happen first and then they all start to come and ask,” he said.

Meanwhile, Galas state assemblyperson Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim said the ongoing threat of elephants and tigers in the Orang Asli settlement is an ongoing problem.

He said he would send food baskets to the affected families as immediate assistance.

“The conflict between humans and wild animals seems to be getting worse and I sympathise with the villagers,” he said and urged the relevant authorities to take immediate action to help the villagers.

- Bernama