A total of 155 conflict cases with elephants in Johor last year

ISKANDAR PUTERI: There were 155 cases of human-elephant conflict recorded in Johor last year, which resulted in crop damage, especially for those living near the wildlife habitats.

Johor Health and Environment Committee Chairman Ling Tian Soon said the federal government had set aside RM10 million in this year’s budget for those involved in such wildlife conflict cases.

“This year, we recorded 41 cases from January to March, and the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) has done everything it can to reduce the number of conflict cases.

“This effort includes surveillance, population management, warning shots to drive away the animals, catch and release, and putting up electric fences,” he said.

Ling was replying to a question from Muszaide Makmor (BN-Sedili), who asked about the government’s efforts in reducing wildlife conflict cases at the state assembly sitting in Kota Iskandar here, on Thursday (May 16).

The catch and release method, he added, was the most immediate short-term method, adding that a mid-term approach would involve putting up electric fences in areas where wildlife conflict had been reported.

“Over the long term, Perhilitan is developing an elephant feeding ground, dubbed Elephant Food Bank near Gunung Muntahak, Kota Tinggi, so that the elephants will be concentrated there.

“In terms of safety, residents in hotspot areas are encouraged to avoid getting close to the elephants, avoid making any provocation, and reduce noise levels.

“They should also move away when they encounter the animals and not take any action by themselves, but call Perhilitan immediately,” he said.

In October last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a RM10 million allocation under Budget 2024 to ease the financial burden faced by those affected by wildlife conflict.