The Perak Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) began relocating 12 wild elephants from Kampung Bongor to their natural habitat away from human settlements on Monday, June 15, 2026 [1, 2]. The operation was carried out in stages with the assistance of two female elephants named Indah and Suria [1, 2].
The herd consisted of both adult and young elephants, with ages estimated by Perhilitan director Mohd Taufik Abdul Rahman to range from one and a half years to 35 years old [1].
The relocation came after residents lodged complaints about the presence of elephants near their villages [1, 2]. Temengor assemblyman Datuk Salbiah Mohamed said elephant-human conflicts have long affected the Hulu Perak district because many villages border forest reserves, which serve as the elephants’ natural habitat [2]. "Elephant-human conflicts in Hulu Perak district was a long-standing issue as most villages were situated near the forest reserves that serve as a natural habitat for the elephants," she said [2].
To better manage future relocation operations, the Perak state government is considering establishing an elephant sanctuary in Gerik [1, 2]. Datuk Salbiah Mohamed added that such a sanctuary would ease the management and relocation of elephants going forward [2].
The relocation effort aimed to reduce the risk of human-elephant encounters and protect both the wildlife and local communities. The operation’s staged approach using female elephants to guide the herd helped ensure the safety and cooperation of the animals during the transfer [1, 2].
Officials have not yet announced the timeline for completion but noted the steps taken mark an important move to address persistent conflicts between villagers and the wild elephant population in Perak.
