04-07-2025
Elephant wrecks homestay and orchard in Baling village
BALING: Residents of Kampung Bukit Hijau are living in fear after a wild elephant ran amok, damaging a homestay and fruit crops over the past few days.
Villager Idris Yaakob, 57, said the incident was discovered by the homestay owner when he went to check on his durian orchard in the area on Sunday.
Idris said various items, including a washing machine were trampled and destroyed, while fruit trees such as cempedak, rambutan, banana, sugarcane and coconut were also damaged.
"The homestay owner doesn't live there. His house is in a residential area in Pekan Baling but he often visits to tend to his fruit trees. That's when he realised the extent of the damage, believed to have occurred since Saturday.
"It's fruit season now and the elephant came for the fruits. The homestay is located on a hill not far from the Gunung Inas Forest Reserve and about 500m from the nearest houses.
"Since Saturday, the elephant has been showing up almost every night from around 11pm until the early hours," he said when contacted today.
Idris said the village, which has more than 600 residents, mostly comprises rubber tappers, many of whom are now afraid to leave their homes for work in the early morning.
"So far, only the homestay, one other house and fruit crops belonging to Shafie, a schoolteacher, have been damaged.
"But the villagers are worried the elephant will return as there are many fruit trees in the area and the fruits are ripening," he said.
Idris said the damage is estimated at over RM40,000, including losses from the homestay, crops and electric fencing which was also destroyed.
He added that villagers now avoid going out at night and keep their doors and windows tightly shut, fearing another visit by the elephant.
