In Malaysia, injured elephant Sulong’s 100km trek home ignites logging debate

The lonely journey of a bull elephant trying to return to its jungle home has captured the hearts of Malaysians over the past week, putting a spotlight on the plight of wildlife struggling against deforestation and rapidly expanding human activity.The elephant – dubbed “Sulong” by Malaysians keenly following social media updates on his weeks-long journey – was first spotted by motorists on August 17, walking slowly along the busy East-West Highway in an apparent attempt to reach the northeastern state of Kelantan.Wildlife authorities had previously relocated Sulong to a forest reserve in Gerik, Perak, over 230km (140 miles) southwest from the forest surrounding Chalil, a remote village in Kelantan’s Gua Musang district, where locals had raised concerns of repeated incursions on farms and village land.