KINABATANGAN: A herd of more than 40 wild elephants has returned to Kampung Perpaduan Datuk Mohd Ugi in Mukim Batu Puteh, raising safety concerns among villagers.
The pachyderms entered the village on the night of 30 September, marking their second appearance this year following an earlier presence between July and August.
Kampung Perpaduan Datuk Mohd Ugi Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairman Azman Amirbek said villagers were worried as the animals were roaming near houses, smallholdings, and daily activity areas.
Azman said the community bore no hostility towards the protected species, but villagers needed guarantees about the safety of vulnerable groups, including children, senior citizens, and local volunteers.
He urged the relevant authorities to intensify monitoring, implement an early warning system, and outline clear safety standard operating procedures for the community.
