PHNOM PENH, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian authorities are closely tracking a herd of six wild elephants, including a calf, after the animals moved from Choam Ksan district toward Kulen district in Preah Vihear province.
The Ministry of Environment announced on Saturday that local authorities and wildlife experts located and traced the movement of the elephants using aerial drone surveillance across the Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary.
Officials have urged residents to remain on high alert and temporarily avoid traveling or camping near forested zones and the Stung Sen River.
Conservationists said that the herd is moving through historical natural corridors and traditional foraging routes. A joint task force remains deployed to safeguard both local communities and the protected wildlife.
The heightened monitoring follows a tragic incident on Tuesday, when the elephant herd damaged a temporary fishing shelter in Choam Ksan district, killing an 11-year-old boy and injuring his mother. ■