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Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Straits Times
Fruits left for elephants along Malaysian highway puts motorists at risk, says patrol volunteer
Videos of an elephant pressing her head against the side of the lorry as if to free her lifeless juvenile from under the vehicle tugged at the heartstrings of many. PHOTOS: MOHD AMIR FAIZAL/FACEBOOK, SCREENGRAB FROM BULETIN MALAYSIA/FACEBOOK Fruits left by wildlife lovers along a highway that is known for elephant encounters in Malaysia may put motorists at risk, a highway patrol volunteer has said. According to Sungai Petani response team volunteer Mohd Amir Faizal, his team has discovered several piles of fruit on the East-West Highway since May 11, the day when a bereft elephant made news for refusing to leave her dead calf that had been run over by a lorry on the same road. Videos of the elephant pressing her head against the side of the lorry as if to free her lifeless juvenile from under the vehicle tugged at the heartstrings of many in Malaysia, at a time when Mother's Day was celebrated around the country. The area around the 123km highway, which links Gerik in Perak to Jeli in Kelantan, is a natural habitat for wild animals such as elephants, bears, Malayan tigers, leopards and tapirs. Mr Amir said he was once contacted by a non-governmental organisation that asked about placing fruits along the highway, which he had warned against, reported Malaysia's state news agency B ernama on May 28 . 'I warned them against it, but judging from the photographic evidence we've received, it appears the warning was ignored,' he said. 'Volunteers have observed these fruit piles being placed at night in at least three locations - near Titi Gajah, the JRTB Construction Memorial, and close to the Jeli district in Kelantan.' On Mr Amir's Facebook page, he explained that once the elephants start taking food from the roadside, they may get used to it and wait by the road for food to come. He added that the elephants would become angry when they are not fed, and what they could do out of frustration may prompt motorists to demand the authorities to take action against the animals. In his latest post on May 28, Mr Amir said: 'Don't let anyone lose their life because of our actions.' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Human-wildlife conflict cases surging in Malaysia
Human-elephant conflicts are pressing issues as they often involve lives and properties. PHOTOS: SCREENGRAB FROM BULETIN MALAYSIA/FACEBOOK ISKANDAR PUTERI - Over 66,000 human-wildlife conflict incidents have been reported in the past four years, said Mr Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister said these incidents, reported from 2020 to 2024, resulted in RM46.5 million (S$14 million) in losses. 'There has been a significant increase in cases, totalling 66,825 reports involving monkeys, elephants, wild boars, tigers, and tapirs. 'In Johor alone, 7,996 complaints were received, with losses amounting to RM6.88 million,' he said during the launch of the Johor Human-Elephant Special Taskforce at Kota Iskandar on May 20 . He said that human-elephant conflicts are pressing issues as they often involve lives and properties. 'This is a focus in Johor, which is why the state formed the taskforce to tackle the matter,' he said. Mr Nik Nazmi added that at the federal level, his ministry's efforts include monitoring elephant movements with satellite collars and installing electric fences in villages and traditional farming areas near elephant habitats. He also said the federal government has allocated RM10 million to support those affected by human-wildlife conflicts. During the event, also attended by Johor Health and Environment Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon, Mr Nik Nazmi engaged in a dialogue with stakeholders' representatives. Issues raised included longstanding elephant conflicts affecting farmers in areas like Kota Tinggi and Kluang. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Malaysians calls for more wildlife protection measures after elephant tragedy
A video circulating online shows the mother elephant with her head pressed against the side of the lorry, as if to free her calf which lay unmoving beneath the vehicle. PHOTOS: SCREENGRAB FROM BULETIN MALAYSIA/FACEBOOK PETALING JAYA - Malaysians are urging for increased wildlife protection after a mother elephant refused to leave her calf, which was killed by a lorry on the East-West Highway. A video of the incident went viral on Mother's Day, moving many netizens to tears. Some tagged Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, and Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi in their posts. 'To the driver, it is just an accident; he will move on with his day-to-day job, but to the mother elephant, she just lost her baby,' wrote Mr Titanium Samarium Wong on Facebook, noting elephants' intelligence. 'They have feelings; just imagine a mother losing her child. I felt so sad to see the mother elephant staying at the scene, refusing to leave. 'Authorities really have to do something to minimise this kind of incident. For the sake of humanity, I can't bear to see things like this again,' he added. 'My heart aches every time I watch this in the media,' wrote Ms Zue Razak, adding a crying emoji. The elephant had 'attacked' the lorry trying to free its calf, which was pinned by the vehicle, and had to be sedated and removed by wildlife officials. English daily New Straits Times reported that the mother elephant has since returned to the forest and that the male calf's carcass has been buried. The Gerik-Jeli stretch on the highway is known for wildlife crossings, especially elephants, with signboards reminding drivers to slow down. Ms Evelin Ruman urged the authorities to build highways or overpasses for wildlife crossings, while Ms Lau Sook Mei called for speed limits in areas with elephant crossings. 'In areas where wild animals are known to roam and cross, why not build a crossing and install railings so the animals won't stray onto the road?' wrote Mr M Tirmizi MY, urging ministers to 'do something'. Ms June Thien YC suggested installing more speed cameras near wildlife areas. 'What action will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future? What steps are being taken to reduce animal-vehicle collisions or even stop them?' asked Ms Vemanna Appannah. Many also called for action against the driver, who claimed the calf had suddenly darted out of the forest. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
11-05-2025
- Straits Times
Young elephant crossing Malaysia highway with mother dies in accident with lorry, draws sympathy
A video circulating online shows the mother elephant with her head pressed against the side of the lorry, as if to free her calf which laid unmoving beneath the vehicle. PHOTOS: SCREENGRAB FROM BULETIN MALAYSIA/FACEBOOK A young elephant in the Malaysian state of Perak was killed in an accident with a lorry on May 11 while it was crossing a highway with its mother, drawing widespread sympathy after a video showed the mother elephant staying by her dead juvenile's side. The video circulating online, recorded from the view of a passing vehicle, shows the mother elephant with her head pressed against the side of the lorry, as if to free her juvenile which lay unmoving beneath the vehicle. According to local media outlet Sinar Harian , the accident occured at around 2am on the East-West Highway and involved a lorry used for transporting chickens. Mr Yusoff Shariff , the director of the Perak Wildlife Protection and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), said the agency was informed about the accident at around 3.30am . He was quoted by Sinar Harian as saying that 'a male elephant estimated to be five years old died after it was believed to have been hit by a lorry while trying to cross the road'. 'Our staff were deployed to the location to carry out an operation to monitor and capture the mother elephant in order to move her to a safer area,' he said. Based on estimates, Mr Yusoff said the mother elephant is around 25 to 27 years old and weighs about 2.2 tons. He said the carcass of the dead elephant has been removed and will be buried. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Asian elephant is classified as endangered. Some of the reasons for its decline are poaching, habitat loss and human-elephant conflict. Meanwhile, Gerik districk police chief Superintendent Zulkifli Mahmood said his department will issue a statement soon regarding the accident. The video of the incident drew sympathy from netizens for the mother elephant's plight. 'How sad it is for the mother - waiting for her child but it's not coming out (from under the lorry). She has a mother's heart even though she is an animal,' said a netizen. 'It's as though the mother elephant is hoping her child is still alive,' said another. Others pointed out that the incident had tragically occurred on Mothers' Day. The East-West Highway has seen several encounters between humans and elephants as the animals cope with a dwindling habitat. Perhilitan has advised motorists to use the highway from 11am to 4pm in order to avoid the elephants, reported local media. In November 2024, Mr Yusof said the Perak Elephant Sanctuary, aimed at reducing conflicts between humans and elephants in the state, is being constructed to accommodate wildlife near the highway. The sanctuary is expected to be completed in 2029 , reported the Malay Mail. In January , a family faced a close encounter on the highway when a herd of passing elephants shook the car they were in 'like a cradle'. In April 2024, another baby elephant was killed on the highway after it was hit by an SUV. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
