We have seen quite a number of ducumentaries where wild animals were tranquilised and translocated in the wide open Savannah or African wilderness. Modern facilities such as helicopter, crane, huge truck and lorries, are being utilise in translocation of wild animals. Gone are the days where a hunter need to hire 10 to 20 tribesman and at times soldiers, bringing equal amounts of cattle to carry supplies and provisions, in an hunting or adventurous expeditions. However, the situation remains the same over centuries in the deep jungle of tropics. In Malaysia, the species that most frequently required translocation are the elephants, Malayan tapirs, Malaysian tigers, Malayan Sun bears, and leopards. And unfortunately, these animals had to be translocated due to their shrinking habitat, caught by snare wire, and wildlife-human conflict.
Sun bear caught in snare illegal set by poachers
The tropical rain forest is extremely dense with vegetations, it is almost impossible to find a flat grassland like the Steppes and Savannah, unless the area was previously cleared. Therefore, it is impossible to bring in heavy machineries such as huge trucks, lorries and cranes, or even pick-up trucks . Though, we may still acquire services of local tribesman from time to time, as undeniably they are excellent trackers and pathfinders. Most of the time, around 15 to 20 (if the number is available) wildlife rangers will be deploy for wildlife translocation operation, they will provide the brute strength to move the wild animals, plus crate, out of the jungle. Or in the cases of elephant translocation, two tame and trained elephants will lead the wild elephants out, it would be impossible to move a sedated nor a crated elephant with human energy. Lorries will park at the edge of the jungle awaiting the entourage of elephants from the deep jungle.
Tame female elephants leading the wild young bull out of the thick jungle
And for the same reason, we can only track or trap these wild animals, unless they were unfortunately caught in a snare. It is not an option to round them up in a boma (permanent or make shift areas to enclose individual or herd of wild animals), as they would not be visible under the thick vegetations and undergrowth beyond 5 feet, and definitely we will not get an aerial view of moving animals, only the lush green tree tops. Due the the high risk involved with tracking carnivores such as tigers, leopards, and their relatively small size that could easily dissapear in the woods, these animals are usually trapped. They are then tranquilised and carried out either in a net or crate to the awaiting transport vehicle. If unfortunately they are injured, too young or too old to be release into a new habitat, these animals will be sent to rescue centres or the zoo.
Elephants loaded onto customised lorries to be translocated to new habitat
As a person with a wild heart, thus I did not and hopefully will never succumb to the "comfort" of an office or clinic, and prefer to work in the field. It is truly sad to see these animals having to be confined within captive situations such as a rescue centre or a zoo. If you look carefully, despair can actually be seen in these animals' eye. We do not think that animals have facial expression, but I have seen boredom, desparation, anger, and sadness so clearly shown. It makes me wonder, when we rally and lament for exploitation of human rights, no doubt many still need our support and aid, but at least human can speak up for themselves, who would speak up for the animals? And even if there are people who put their hearts and souls in this, are they loud enough? After all, animals do not have a right to vote, and they do not have any monetary contribution to give. Logging, plantations, mining, agriculture, development, etc will never stop as human population and economy continue to grow. However, what will happen when all forest are fell and all wild animals are extinct? Would human be able to exist alone, well perhaps with a few cats and dogs, also cockroaches (they have out live the dinosaurs, most likely they would outlive humans too).
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