New giant panda pair to arrive in Malaysia in August
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will soon welcome a new pair of giant pandas, Chen Xing and Xiao Yue, as part of its ongoing conservation partnership with China.
The announcement was made by Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim at the National Elephant Conservation Centre in Kuala Gandah, Pahang, on Wednesday (July 9)
The department announced that the new pair of pandas was expected to arrive at Zoo Negara in August 2025.
Malaysia's previous panda pair, Fu Wa (known as Xing Xing) and Feng Yi (known as Liang Liang), were repatriated to China on 18 May 2025, after spending 11 years at Zoo Negara.
The two pandas were initially sent to Malaysia under the 2014 International Cooperation Project on Giant Panda Conservation, which involved the animals being loaned to Zoo Negara for 10 years.
Their arrival on 21 May 2014 marked the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the People's Republic of China.
Abdul Kadir said the triumphant return of the pandas reflected the strong cooperation and commitment of all parties involved.
'This contribution is significant in upholding Malaysia's international reputation and in fulfilling our obligations to China,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Johari: No REE mining in permanent forest reserves pending study results
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is conducting both long-term and short-term studies to assess the feasibility of carrying out responsible rare earth element (REE) mining activities within Permanent Forest Reserve (PFR) areas, stressing that there must be a clear strategy to manage the risks. Acting Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the study aims to provide a scientific and technical basis for policy considerations on banning mining in PFRs, environmentally sensitive areas and protected reserves. "This study is planned in phases over a five-year period, covering the pre-mining phase (2024–2025), the mining phase (2026–2027) and the post-mining phase (2028–2029). "It also involves collaboration with technical agencies such as the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, the Minerals and Geoscience Department, the Wildlife and National Parks Department, the Department of Environment and PLANMalaysia. "The study comprises six key components, (namely), hydrology, soil, flora, fauna, carbon stock and socio-economics," he said in the Dewan Rakyat. He said the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (Frim) had conducted a short-term study in 2024 at a rubber plantation in Mukim Kenering, Perak, using the in-situ leaching mining method. "Based on the preliminary findings, it was concluded that REE mining activities would require more time before concrete results could be obtained for large-scale mining. "A new round of data collection is underway in 2025 to compare with baseline findings. "This activity is expected to be completed in September, with reporting in October. "Any policy decision related to mining activities in PFR will only be considered after the study by FRIM has been finalised," he said. Citing previous cases, Johari said Malaysia still needs to examine all aspects to ensure the country is prepared to mitigate risks from REE activities. He said that between 1975 and 1990, a copper mining project in Ranau, Sabah, had caused massive environmental damage due to uncontrolled waste. "Water pollution made it impossible for fish to survive, leading to the closure of the mine. "This shows why we need detailed, proper research before drawing conclusions," he said. In Kenering, he said, a proof-of-concept mining project is being carried out on 270 acres (109.2ha), with an analysis underway to assess wastewater discharge from mining activities. He said Malaysia still does not have the technology to process REE. "For example, to process one metric tonne of REE, five metric tonnes of ammonium sulphate must be injected. "Once REE 'cake' is produced, it has to be sent to China for processing, as Malaysia lacks such facilities. The question is, what happens to the residual waste left in the soil? "I discussed with the Perak menteri besar about providing our scientists three acres of land — one to plant oil palm, one for rubber and one for aquaculture. "The idea is to test the reuse of wastewater for agriculture and fisheries," he said. Johari said Malaysia also had past experience with the Asian Rare Earth project in Bukit Merah (1982–1994), where mining was eventually shut down due to non-compliance with waste management SOPs. "We are still in the process of examining all these aspects to ensure that if Malaysia is to embark on the REE industry, we must have a very clear strategy to manage the risks." He was responding to Datuk Dr Alias Razak (PN-Kuala Nerus) on the status of the study and the timeline for its completion. Johari said that when it comes to REE mining, both state and federal governments must play their roles, as licences and approvals for mining activities require authorisation from both levels. Meanwhile, Johari said the Climate Change Bill, which will serve as the main guiding principle for REE activities, is currently being reviewed by the Attorney-General's Chambers and will be tabled soon. "If there are no major changes, the Bill will be presented right after the national budget. "In the meantime, there is still no REE mining in PFRs," he said.
Barnama
13-08-2025
- Barnama
Perhilitan Ramps Up Efforts To Tackle Human-animal Conflicts
T he presence of stray animals such as dogs and cats, along with wildlife like monkeys, in urban areas is not a new issue. However, in some areas, the problem has escalated to a worrying level, with residents claiming that authorities are slow to act on their complaints. The final article in this three-part special report examines the role of Perhilitan in addressing human-wildlife conflicts in residential areas, particularly in urban settings. In the past, wild boars would only venture into villages in remote rural areas. These days, however, the animals can be sighted in urban areas, especially in newly developed townships. Viral posts on social media have also shown other animals, such as the endangered tapir, wandering into residential areas in apparent search of food – as happened in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, in March this year. Earlier, in January, a wild elephant was spotted roaming in Taman Seri Impian in Kluang, Johor. Financial losses caused by wildlife intrusions nationwide – including wild elephant incursions into plantations, farms and villages, as well as predator attacks such as tigers preying on livestock – amounted to RM46.5 million between 2020 and 2024, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability. All this underscores the fact that human-wildlife conflicts are on the rise, requiring decisive action from the authorities, particularly since most of the wildlife involved are protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716). SCALE OF CONFLICT Selangor Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) director Wan Mohd Adib Wan Mohd Yusoh said most cases of wildlife disturbances reported in the state involve monkeys. Of the 18,444 complaints received by Perhilitan Selangor from 2023 to May 2025, a total of 14,515 or nearly 80 percent concerned monkeys, with Kajang, Petaling, Sepang and Ampang recording the highest numbers. Wan Mohd Adib Wan Mohd Yusoh. Wan Mohd Adib said these animals are venturing closer to human settlements because their forest habitats are shrinking, adding that human 'interference' is also altering their behaviour. 'One of the main factors driving this change (in behaviour) is humans feeding them. Some people turn feeding into a tourist attraction, but such behaviour alters the natural habits of these wild animals. 'When food is provided regularly, for example, every day at 7 am in the same place, the monkeys are conditioned to come and become dependent on human food, which is tastier, higher in protein, sweeter and fattier. 'This changes their natural instincts to the point where they no longer want to forage for their own food,' he told Bernama. He said monkeys are among animal species that learn quickly and adapt easily to change, making them less fearful of humans. 'Conflict occurs when human and wildlife activities overlap, increasing the risk of harm to both humans and the animals themselves,' he explained. However, he noted that patterns of wildlife disturbance vary depending on the local geography and the type of development in the area. 'Still, we cannot view this conflict as an issue of involving a single species… rather, it is an ecosystem-wide problem. Issues such as property damage, waste management and public safety are a reflection of this conflict,' he added. CONTROL STRATEGY On measures taken to address the issue, Wan Mohd Adib said Perhilitan Selangor follows established standard operating procedures, beginning with an on-site investigation and risk assessment before taking physical action such as scaring wild animals away with gunfire or capturing and relocating them. In critical situations where aggressive animals threaten human safety, a 'shoot-to-kill operation' will be carried out. For other species, such as wild boars, the control approach requires greater safety considerations due to their size and potential danger, including conducting joint operations with local authorities. Among the main causes of human-animal conflict are forest heavy exploration, overdevelopment, poor food waste management and the practice of feeding wild animals. 'Complaints about wild boars usually come to us through the local authorities, and their presence is often linked to food sources from poorly managed waste disposal… that's the main factor attracting these animals. 'Collaboration with local authorities is essential, for example, to temporarily close off operation areas during trap installation or pest eradication operations to ensure public safety,' he explained. At the national level, Perhilitan has reportedly implemented several support initiatives, including introducing a scheme to compensate communities whose crops and property are damaged by wildlife attacks. The scheme has been allocated RM10 million. Perhilitan also conducts joint operations with agencies such as the Malaysian Civil Defence Force, Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia and Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK) to address human-wildlife conflicts during floods and other emergencies. STRENGTHEN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT PLAN Wan Mohd Adib also said conflicts often occur in buffer zones around development projects, especially new ones. In this context, he said every new development project must submit an Environmental Impact Assessment report that includes a Wildlife Management Plan, which must receive Perhilitan's approval. 'This plan covers wildlife conflict mitigation measures such as (installation of) security fencing, wildlife crossings and warning signs, as well as waste management,' he said. He added that Perhilitan works closely with agencies such as the Public Works Department to implement these measures as well as regularly monitor the implementation. Wildlife conflict is the clash between human activities and animals that threatens human safety, well-being, or property, while also endangering the lives and safety of the animals. He said the department is also proactive in finding more humane solutions to control the populations of wildlife, such as monkeys. 'Perhilitan is working with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to develop an oral contraceptive (for monkeys to reduce their populations) which hopefully can offer a sustainable solution (to human-monkey conflicts), as physical methods like capture and relocation are only temporary fixes,' he said. Elaborating on the oral contraceptive, senior lecturer in wildlife management at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UPM, Dr Tengku Rinalfi Putra Tengku Azizan said they are using a combination of two hormones commonly found in human contraceptive pills – ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel – which can be incorporated into food bait. 'These hormones work by preventing female monkeys from producing key reproductive hormones. When this process is disrupted, they cannot become pregnant,' he said in an interview with Bernama. Initial tests showed the hormone bait to be highly effective when tested on caged monkeys. He added that its effects can be reversed if the hormones are no longer administered. The research also succeeded in determining the dosage and formula that can be incorporated into the food bait. 'This approach is not only more humane but also more sustainable in the long term,' he said, adding that public support is vital to its success. The process simply involves placing the hormone bait in areas frequently visited by monkeys in search of food. 'The monkeys will consume it on their own, and monitoring can be done by photographing the troop from time to time to see whether the number of young monkeys is decreasing or increasing,' he added. MORE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS Meanwhile, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia lecturer Associate Professor Dr Azlan Abas called for more humane and sustainable solutions to address the presence of stray animals such as dogs and cats in urban areas. Azlan, who is attached to the university's Environmental Management Programme, said the issue reflects a 'crisis in planning, policy gaps and a lack of empathy in modern urban systems'. He said the solution requires an integrated and systematic approach rather than temporary ad hoc measures. Pointing to a recent proposal by the Negeri Sembilan government to cull stray dogs after more than 400 complaints were lodged by the public, he said implementing the 'Trap-Neuter-Release' (TNR) method proposed by animal welfare groups such as SPCA Malaysia is not only a more ethical solution but also more sustainable in the long term. 'From an ecological perspective, animals such as cats and dogs play a role in maintaining a city or town's ecological balance by naturally controlling small animal populations such as rats. Aggressive culling can disrupt the urban food chain and trigger unforeseen side effects. A wild tapir filmed entering a public settlement has raised public concern over the drastic increase in human-animal conflict. 'TNR also offers a more financially sustainable solution. Although its initial implementation cost is high, the animal population will gradually decrease over time, making long-term maintenance costs lower than continuous capture-and-cull methods, which must be repeated indefinitely without providing a permanent solution. This makes TNR a smart initial investment,' he added. He also stressed that without a national policy capable of coordinating action across agencies and states, local authorities will continue to act reactively based on limited resources and pressure. Azlan proposed the establishment of a Malaysian Urban Animal Management Centre as a national coordinating body to formulate policies on mitigating human-animal conflict, conduct training, monitor implementation and coordinate inter-agency action involving Perhilitan, local authorities and non-governmental organisations. 'Overseas models can be used as references. Taiwan, for example, has a collaborative TNR programme, implemented since 2017. In Singapore, the myENV (mobile) application allows the public to report stray animal sightings through real-time geolocation. This data is sent directly to relevant agencies for prompt, evidence-based action. It also helps identify animal migration patterns, active breeding areas and public health risk hotspots in real time,' he said. He said Malaysia could also develop a similar smart system, injecting scientific elements, accountability and effectiveness into urban animal management. 'Development should not disregard the existence of other creatures. We must build cities that are fair to all living beings, not just clean and modern,' the environmental sustainability expert stressed. Malaysia now stands at a critical crossroads — to either maintain the reactive and risky status quo or move forward with a progressive, sustainable and humane national policy. The time has come to choose a bolder and more visionary path forward.
The Star
11-08-2025
- The Star
Engineering an answer for human-elephant conflict
IN the early hours of May 11 this year, Malaysians woke up to heartbreaking news that a young elephant calf had been fatally struck by a lorry along the East-West Highway near Gerik, Perak. That Mother's Day was marked by collective grief, as eyewitness accounts and viral videos of the incident flooded social media. The footage depicted the harrowing scene of the calf's mother desperately trying to revive her offspring – moving the lorry to free her trapped calf – and then maintaining a prolonged vigil by the roadside before she was sedated and safely escorted away. The tragic incident sparked widespread public outcry, highlighting the escalating conflict between humans and displaced wildlife and renewed calls for effective solutions to protect both. Human-elephant conflict (HEC) has been escalating as forested areas are cleared for development, disrupting the elephants' natural migratory routes. This not only leads to increasing clashes with humans – often due to farmland encroachment and crop destruction – but, as seen in May, can tragically result in the death of iconic wildlife. UTP's ELEFence is a safe, non-lethal barrier that diverts elephants from highways. Unlike electric fences, its sturdy, habitat-friendly design has proven effective in real-world tests in Pahang. According to the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), a total of 6,853 cases of HEC were reported from 2015 to 2024. What's more, road accidents involving animals are also on the rise. Since 2020, a total of 2,361 wild animals have been killed by vehicles nationwide – with large mammals like the Malayan tapir topping the list of roadkill casualties. With only an estimated 1,200 –1,700 Malayan elephants remaining in the wild and forest corridors disappearing, wildlife authorities face mounting pressure to implement effective, sustainable solutions that protect both animals and human livelihoods. At Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), researchers at the Smart Infrastructure Modelling and Monitoring (SIMM) Centre under Institute of Smart and Sustainable Living (ISSL), have formed a collaboration with the Perhilitan to develop sustainable HEC mitigation solutions. These efforts are showing promise and scalability. 'UTP's solutions represent a convergence of ecological research and engineering expertise, guided by policy frameworks and operational partnerships with Perhilitan. 'We see technology as a driver of long-term conservation, not just a quick technical fix. This partnership ensures these tools are rooted in real-world conditions,' says ISSL Institute director Prof Dr Shahrina Nordin. She adds that UTP's commitment to elephant conservation aligns with Malaysia's National Elephant Conservation Action Plan (NECAP 2.0), which prioritises habitat connectivity and conflict reduction. 'Innovation must bridge the gap between development and ecology. Our partnership with Perhilitan ensures these tools are not just theoretical but deployable where they're needed most,' she adds. The ELESensor system enables real-time smart monitoring for timely maintenance and enhanced fence reliability in wildlife zones. One such innovation is ELEFence, a non-lethal physical barrier designed to deter elephants from entering high-risk zones such as highways. Unlike electric fences, which require maintenance and pose risks, ELEFence is designed to withstand the strength of elephants, and its modular components allow for quick installation and minimal maintenance. 'We've designed the ELEFence to take high lateral bearing, requiring low maintenance, is modular and baby elephant proof,' says UTP civil and environmental engineering chair and SIMM member Prof Dr Hisham Mohamad. Consisting of IBS-reinforced concrete column, an innovative substructure element and horizontal steel strands, he says a 35m stretch of the ELEFence was piloted at the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary in Pahang in 2021, where it passed with flying colours. Hisham and his team simulated various scenarios to test the robustness of the ELEFence, including factoring the strength and craftiness of the mammals. 'Elephants – as clever animals and would – for example, use tree trunks to topple a fence or barrier. 'We simulated such a scenario by placing tree trunks on the fence and found that even though there was some slack, it was easy to return the wires to the initial tension.' Following the successful pilot, plans are underway for the ELEFence to be deployed along a section of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) at the Kemasul Forest Reserve in Temerloh, Pahang. This stretch, Hisham adds, is a hot zone with significant elephant movement, as reflected in Perhilitan data. UTP Provost Prof Mohamed Ibrahim (seventh from left) and Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim (fourth from right) at the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing to deliver real-world conservation solutions by engineering innovation and advanced technology. 'Discussions are underway on the design of the fence, which will span 7km on each side of the rail line,' he says, adding that UTP as the technology partner is also in the process of designing the ELEFence for deployment at two elephant sanctuaries – in Johor and Perak. Hisham notes that with some simple tweaks and adjustments to the fence's steel strands, the ELEFence can also be deployed to prevent other large mammals such as tapir, from entering villages or agricultural areas. In addition to the ELEFence, Hisham and his team have also come up with the ELESensor, an electric fence system fault detection system. Electric fences have long been deployed to control animal movement, but these as Hisham points out, are prone to faults resulting from breakage, wear and tear, overgrown vegetation and weather conditions, all of which make maintenance crucial. In Malaysia, Perhilitan is responsible for maintaining electric fences developed under a government project and installed along the edges of forest reserves. However, a lack of manpower has made this task increasingly challenging, he says. 'Monitoring a 20km stretch of electric fence on foot, for example, will take days and there may also be instances where faults go undetected for some time. 'That's when the elephants will cross the fences easily, resulting in human-elephant conflict. This is why we came up with the ELESensor.' The ELESensor, which is mounted on the electric fence at intervals, is embedded with sensors that measure the fence's voltage, its tilt as well as detect short circuits. Information from the ELESensor – essentially an internet-of-things device – is sent wirelessly through LoRaWAN gateway and in real time, enabling timely maintenance and repair of the electric fences. Apart from deployment within the country, both technologies have received attention from other countries looking to mitigate HEC, such as Thailand and Sri Lanka. Hisham, who led the team behind both innovations, believes that the ELEFence and ELESensor technologies can be applied at oil palm plantations and for animal conservation initiatives. 'We see many opportunities where our expertise in engineering technology can be used to support industry as well as contribute to society and the nation. 'Our goal is not only to protect wildlife, but to make roads and communities safer in places shared with elephants, especially considering recent tragic events,' says Hisham. To learn more about ELEFence and ELESensor, email or
