Experts urge safer animal crossings after elephant calf killed on Gerik-Jeli Highway
KUALA LUMPUR: The recent incident involving a male elephant killed after being struck by a lorry in Gerik, which triggered a strong emotional response among Malaysians, is a call to action for the government to build infrastructure that facilitates safe animal crossings on highways to prevent similar tragedies.
Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Associate Professor Dr Law Teik Hua proposed three measures to reduce wildlife-related accidents, including the installation of motion sensors, rumble strips, and elevated crossings.
He said motion sensors and wildlife detection systems could activate flashing warning signals when large animals approach the road, allowing drivers to slow down in real time.
"In high-risk areas, rumble strips and slowed speed zones can notify and compel drivers to stay focused.
"These steps can considerably lower crash hazards when combined with improved signage and public awareness efforts," he told the New Straits Times.
While these technologies could involve higher costs, Law said long-term solutions such as elevated crossings or wildlife underpasses offer the best fix.
He said these approaches would transform highways into shared spaces that integrate the natural ecosystems they cross, rather than viewing them solely as pathways for vehicles.
Meanwhile, MySDG Centre for Environment and Sustainability director Anthony Tan Kee Huatalso called for improved infrastructure, such as viaducts, to allow animals to safely pass under highways.
He said the increasing frequency of vehicle-animal collisions, especially along the East Coast Expressway, has become a concerning norm.
"How well lit are our highways? There are straight stretches of highways that are pitch dark at night and do not give the driver any time to react to animals crossing," he said.
This call for improved infrastructure comes after the death of a baby elephant struck by a lorry on the Gerik-Jeli Highway yesterday morning.
Earlier today, Perak Wildlife and National Parks Department director Yusoff Shariff had said the male calf's carcass has been buried, and the mother has returned to the forest.
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Focus Malaysia
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