RM66.2mil viaduct project to reduce human-animal conflict

The Star

13-06-2025

A Perhilitan signboard warning motorists about wildlife. — Filepic
Johor government has expressed its full support for a viaduct along Jalan Batu Pahat-Jemaluang to provide a crossing for wild animals.
State health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the project was crucial for the safety of both wildlife and road users, particularly in areas frequented by wild animals.
The proposed viaduct, he said, would be located within the second phase of the Central Forest Spine ecological corridor (CFS2) that covers southern Peninsular Malaysia.
Specifically, the project would involve the Labis Timur Forest Reserve, Mersing Forest Reserve and Lenggor Forest Reserve.
'Construction of the crossing is proposed to start at KM102 along FT050 which connects Batu Pahat and Jemaluang.
'This viaduct is part of the government's ongoing efforts to address human-wildlife conflict caused by habitat fragmentation along the CFS,' he said, adding that the project has been allocated RM66.2mil.
Ling said this in his winding-up session during the state assembly meeting at Bangunan Sultan Ismail, Kota Iskandar.
Ling: Viaduct will contribute to long-term biodiversity conservation in Johor.
In helping to ensure the safety of humans and wildlife, he said the viaduct would contribute to long-term biodiversity conservation in Johor.
The viaduct design, he added, was a symbol of cooperation between the state and federal governments.
Ling thanked Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry for channelling funds to the state through the Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation (EFT) mechanism.
He said part of the funding would be used for several measures including the translocation of elephants.
This has been scheduled to begin in July and continue until December this year.
'An allocation of RM226,000 from the funds will support the setting up of Kumpulan Pelindung Hidupan Liar in a village in Kluang, which has had many wildlife-related issues.
'Another major step is the fitting of satellite tracking collars on elephants to enable an early warning system,' he said.
Of the first five of these collars, two have been attached to elephants with operations to continue until the remaining collars are utilised, said Ling.
He added that Johor Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) was procuring five more collars.
'At the same time, 21 areas have been identified for elephant food banks.
'These are locations where food is made available to elephants to deter them from entering farms and residential areas in search of food,' he said.
Ling said engagement sessions with local farmers has been held to ensure the smooth running of the elephant food banks.
'We hope that through these approaches, we can reduce conflicts between humans and elephants while also preserving the survival of this increasingly threatened species.'