Elephant-human conflict unresolved due to lack of funding - Gerik MP
He said complaints related to elephant disturbances were among the most frequently received since the start of this year.
IPOH – Budget constraints and a shortage of manpower have been identified as among the main causes of conflict between humans and wild elephants around the East-West Highway (JRTB) here.
Gerik Member of Parliament Fathul Huzir Ayob said the issue continued to recur and had become increasingly worrying, resulting in a tragic incident involving a baby elephant that was run over by a trailer lorry in an accident at about 2am last Sunday.
He said what made it even more heartbreaking was that the incident, which drew sympathy from Malaysians nationwide, happened in conjunction with Mother’s Day.
“During Parliament sittings, whether through debate speeches or oral and written questions, I have voiced my concerns about this issue several times.
“In fact, the application for road repairs along the JRTB and the installation of over 140 solar lights to deter elephants has been approved, yet the issue remains unresolved,” he said in a media statement on Monday.
Fathul said concerns raised also included road user safety and the encroachment into wildlife habitats in Parliament, including in the Royal Address Debate Speech on Feb 12.
He said complaints related to elephant disturbances were among the most frequently received since the start of this year.
“Although agencies such as the Wildlife Department (Perhilitan), JKR, police, and the Forestry Department have collaborated, they are facing issues like insufficient allocations, lack of staff, and the dwindling food sources for elephants.
“I hope immediate action can be taken to preserve the integrity and sustainability of flora and fauna, such as these wild elephants,” he said.
He said the issue of decreasing food sources and habitat disruption has made the JRTB route a high-risk area for human-elephant encounters.
He also expressed confidence that with cooperation from all parties, a more effective and sustainable solution could be implemented to ensure the survival of wild elephants in the country.
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