Urgent habitat study needed to tackle human-wildlife conflict, says group

GUA MUSANG: An ecological study, especially about wildlife habitats, must be expedited to resolve animal-human conflicts in Kelantan, says the Ecological Association of Malaysia.

Its president Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail said this is because agricultural areas such as plantations and farms are often damaged by animals, including elephants.

He said the relevant parties should pay special attention to animal habitats to allow foraging and breeding activities without incidences of conflict with humans.

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“Incidents involving wild animals and humans continue, such as road accidents, crop and property damage, loss of life or human injury, among others.

“Areas with special needs such as salt licks for wild animals need to be given special attention. If (not)… then this problem will continue and there will be no solution,” he said in a recent interview.

He added that cooperation between development agencies and wildlife protection agencies was needed to devise more effective solutions.

“When the areas become smaller, the paths of wild animals are not only blocked but food and suitable habitat also decrease, leading to an increase in conflict.

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“I would like to propose using satellite technology to locate elephants to overcome the frequency of conflicts with humans in this district,” he said.

Previously, the state Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) installed LED lights at locations identified as entry routes for wild elephants into human settlements and put up electrified fences around areas where local communities had reported wild animal encroachment.

A Bangladeshi man was killed after being trampled by a wild elephant in the Kampung Om Estate, Pos Blau on May 12 while a Myanmar woman was injured by a wild elephant in Ladang Aring 8 on May 8. – BK