HULU TERENGGANU, Jan 29 — Seven elephants have been placed at the Kenyir Elephant Village (KEV), a state government project in the Kenyir Lake tourism area aimed at drawing more tourists to Terengganu.

State Economic Planning Unit Kenyir Lake Development Division manager Tengku Mohd Ariffin Tengku Abdul Rahman said the project, which began in 2012 on a 256-hectare site, would have 30 elephants when fully completed.

He said KEV, a two-phase project, would also have eight towers, a 500-metre-long suspension bridge, an elephant performance centre and other facilities to be provided at a cost of RM11.65 million.

“The first phase, on a 12ha site, is expected to be fully completed and will be opened to the public in the middle of this year. 

“We hope the project will become a catalyst for the tourism industry in the state,” he said at a ceremony to receive the seven elephants from the Wildlife and National Parks Department, here, today. — Bernama