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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.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- The Sun
Elephant-feeding by NGO puts East-West Highway users at risk
IPOH: The act of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) placing heaps of fruit along the East-West Highway (JRTB) is drawing elephants to the roadside and increasing the risk of dangerous wildlife encounters for motorists. Sungai Petani Response Team volunteer, Mohd Amir Faizal, said patrols by his team since May 11 have discovered several piles of fruit left at various locations along the JRTB. 'I was once contacted by a representative of an NGO who asked about placing fruits along the highway. 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,' he told Bernama. Earlier, Mohd Amir had shared photos on Facebook showing mangoes and bananas placed along the roadside of the JRTB, which is known to be a natural habitat for wildlife such as elephants, bears, Malayan tigers, leopards, and tapirs. The 123-kilometre highway, which links Gerik in Perak to Jeli in Kelantan, was built in 1970 and opened to traffic on July 1, 1982. Mohd Amir warned that if this practice is not stopped, more people may follow suit, mistakenly believing it benefits wildlife. 'Wild animals are meant to forage on their own. Leaving food by the roadside is not only misguided, it's irresponsible and poses a serious danger to road users who rely on the JRTB for their daily commute,' he said. Meanwhile, Perak Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director Yusoff Shariff said there are currently no specific laws that allow for enforcement action against those who leave food for wildlife in such areas. 'To curb this behaviour, we will install more warning signs along the highway to remind the public not to feed wild animals. 'There is no legal provision, including under Perhilitan, that permits enforcement against this act. For now, our approach will be to raise public awareness through education and signage,' he said.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- The Sun
Roadside fruit lures elephants, perils motorists
IPOH: The act of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) placing heaps of fruit along the East-West Highway (JRTB) is drawing elephants to the roadside and increasing the risk of dangerous wildlife encounters for motorists. Sungai Petani Response Team volunteer, Mohd Amir Faizal, said patrols by his team since May 11 have discovered several piles of fruit left at various locations along the JRTB. 'I was once contacted by a representative of an NGO who asked about placing fruits along the highway. 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,' he told Bernama. Earlier, Mohd Amir had shared photos on Facebook showing mangoes and bananas placed along the roadside of the JRTB, which is known to be a natural habitat for wildlife such as elephants, bears, Malayan tigers, leopards, and tapirs. The 123-kilometre highway, which links Gerik in Perak to Jeli in Kelantan, was built in 1970 and opened to traffic on July 1, 1982. Mohd Amir warned that if this practice is not stopped, more people may follow suit, mistakenly believing it benefits wildlife. 'Wild animals are meant to forage on their own. Leaving food by the roadside is not only misguided, it's irresponsible and poses a serious danger to road users who rely on the JRTB for their daily commute,' he said. Meanwhile, Perak Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director Yusoff Shariff said there are currently no specific laws that allow for enforcement action against those who leave food for wildlife in such areas. 'To curb this behaviour, we will install more warning signs along the highway to remind the public not to feed wild animals. 'There is no legal provision, including under Perhilitan, that permits enforcement against this act. For now, our approach will be to raise public awareness through education and signage,' he said.
The Star
28-05-2025
- The Star
Elephant-feeding by NGO puts East-West Highway users at risk
IPOH: The act of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) placing heaps of fruit along the East-West Highway (JRTB) is drawing elephants to the roadside and increasing the risk of dangerous wildlife encounters for motorists. Sungai Petani Response Team volunteer, Mohd Amir Faizal, said patrols by his team since May 11 have discovered several piles of fruit left at various locations along the JRTB. "I was once contacted by a representative of an NGO who asked about placing fruits along the highway. 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,' he told Bernama. Earlier, Mohd Amir had shared photos on Facebook showing mangoes and bananas placed along the roadside of the JRTB, which is known to be a natural habitat for wildlife such as elephants, bears, Malayan tigers, leopards, and tapirs. The 123km highway, which links Gerik in Perak to Jeli in Kelantan, was built in 1970 and opened to traffic on July 1, 1982. Mohd Amir warned that if this practice is not stopped, more people may follow suit, mistakenly believing it benefits wildlife. "Wild animals are meant to forage on their own. Leaving food by the roadside is not only misguided, it's irresponsible and poses a serious danger to road users who rely on the JRTB for their daily commute,' he said. Meanwhile, Perak Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director Yusoff Shariff said there are currently no specific laws that allow for enforcement action against those who leave food for wildlife in such areas. "To curb this behaviour, we will install more warning signs along the highway to remind the public not to feed wild animals. "There is no legal provision, including under Perhilitan, that permits enforcement against this act. For now, our approach will be to raise public awareness through education and signage,' he said. - Bernama
New Straits Times
28-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Fruit left for elephants by NGO puts drivers at risk on highway
IPOH: A non-governmental organisation (NGO) placing fruit along the East-West Highway (JRTB) is drawing elephants to the roadside and increasing the risk of dangerous wildlife encounters for motorists. Sungai Petani Response Team volunteer Mohd Amir Faizal said his team, which has been patrolling the area since May 11, has found piles of fruit left at several spots along the 123km highway, which cuts through key wildlife habitats. "I was once contacted by a representative of an NGO who asked about placing fruits along the highway. 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," he told Bernama. Earlier, Mohd Amir posted photos on Facebook showing mangoes and bananas placed along the roadside. The JRTB, which links Gerik in Perak to Jeli in Kelantan, runs through natural habitats for elephants, bears, Malayan tigers, leopards, and tapirs. He warned that if the practice continues, more people may follow suit, thinking they are helping wildlife. "Wild animals are meant to forage on their own. Leaving food by the roadside is not only misguided, it's irresponsible and poses a serious danger to road users who rely on the JRTB for their daily commute," he said. Meanwhile, Perak Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director Yusoff Shariff said there are currently no legal provisions to take action against individuals who feed wildlife in such areas. "To curb this behaviour, we will install more warning signs along the highway to remind the public not to feed wild animals. "There is no legal provision, including under Perhilitan, that permits enforcement against this act. For now, our approach will be to raise public awareness through education and signage," he said. – BERNAMA
