Have you been following Sulong Chalil’s story? I have, since last month.
Sulong, a bull elephant, was originally part of a herd in Chalil, a village in Gua Musang, Kelantan. But he and the other elephants often wandered into the nearby villages and this posed a danger to the villagers. Perhilitan (the Dept of Wildlife and National Parks) captured him in late July 2026 and transferred him far away, 230km, to a forest reserve in Gerik, Perak.
But Sulong was not happy and driven by instinct, began to make his long trek home. Since 17th August, he was spotted by motorists as he walked along the East-West Highway, trudging slowly but surely with an injured right leg. His plight sparked a massive wave of online sympathy, prayers and support. Using aerial drones and day-and-night daily ground patrols, Perhilitan closely monitored Sulong’s movements along the highway to ensure his safety as he finally crossed back into forested areas in Jeli, Kelantan on 27th August. Perhilitan also reported that his right leg injury was drying up and showing positive improvement. Throughout his long journey, he moved well and maintained good appetite. By then, Sulong had walked more than 100km but was still far from home.
Yesterday’s news says that Perhilitan has safely recaptured and treated Sulong. Subsequently, Sulong was transferred by ferryboat across Tasik Kenyir, a relocation operation carried out by Perhilitan, supported by the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and two trained elephants named Rambai and Cheri, who helped accompany Sulong. Sulong is now placed in his new home, the Taman Negara in Terengganu, a suitable and safe habitat for elephants. A dedicated team of veterinary officers monitored him closely during his transfer and he is currently receiving continuous medical assessment and follow-up treatments in his new, safer habitat.
Sulong was not sent back to Gua Musang because returning him to his original habitat would restart human-elephant conflicts and pose a danger to local residents and plantations. Relocating him to the Terengganu National Park is aimed to keep him safe, give his injured leg time to heal, and permanently reduce the risk of road accidents or conflicts with people.
Sulong received so much sympathy and well wishes on his long trek home. He is now in a safe environment and we wish him a happy and healthy life.
Be safe and happy in your new home, Sulong! You have our admiration, support and love. Our prayers are always with you.
Monitoring methods used by Perhilitan:
Aerial Drone Surveillance: Officers deployed drones to safely monitor Sulong’s movements. This allowed them to inspect his limping gait and the visible wound on his leg from above without agitating him or getting too close.
Regular Ground Patrols: Perhilitan teams conducted daily patrols—running sweeps twice a day, both during the day and at night—along the Gerik-Jeli highway. Rangers kept a close eye on his physical status to ensure he was still feeding well and moving steadily despite his injury.
Direct Veterinary Assessments: Once Perhilitan successfully recaptured Sulong, specialized veterinary officers stepped in. They provided continuous medical evaluations and hands-on treatment for his leg throughout his capture and eventual translocation to the national park in Terengganu.
Who are Rambai and Cheri?
Rambai and Cheri are two highly trained female elephants known as “gajah denak” (decoy or tamer elephants). They are Perhilitan’s most vital helpers when it comes to resolving human-wildlife conflicts across Malaysia. Both elephants reside at the Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre (NECC) in Lanchang, Pahang. They are regularly transported by truck to different states whenever a wild elephant needs to be safely relocated.
Wild elephants are incredibly large, strong, and highly stressed when captured. Trying to force them onto transport vehicles is dangerous for both the wildlife officers and the wild elephant itself. Rambai and Cheri act as “persuaders.” Their job is to calm the wild elephant down, walk alongside it, and guide it peacefully onto transport trucks or boats.
During Sulong’s relocation, because he had an injured right front leg and was under immense stress, the calm presence of Rambai and Cheri helped keep him stationary. They flanked Sulong, providing physical and psychological reassurance so that Perhilitan’s veterinary teams could safely guide him toward his ultimate destination at the Terengganu National Park.
- “Man 10” (April 2026): They successfully coaxed and lured a wild bull elephant nicknamed “Man 10” in Felda Aring 10, Kelantan, providing immense relief to over 500 local villagers.
- Kelantan Herd (August 2025): They spent days in the jungle assisting in the complex translocation of a five-elephant herd.
Kudos, Rambai and Cheri!
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