KUALA LUMPUR – The recent death of a baby elephant on the East-West Highway (JRTB) Gerik-Jeli has renewed concerns over the growing risks of roadkill and human-wildlife conflict, particularly in key elephant habitats across Peninsular Malaysia.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the incident, which occurred in the early hours of May 11, served as a sobering reminder of the pressures facing wildlife in increasingly fragmented landscapes.
“It is not merely a tragic accident, but a stark reminder of the growing challenges in human-wildlife coexistence,” he said in a statement.
Perhilitan’s records show that eight elephants have died in roadkill incidents in Peninsular Malaysia over the past five years, including three this year. From 2020 to 2024, 4,919 cases of human-elephant conflict were recorded, involving property damage estimated at RM39.4 million.
A 2016 study found that elephant roaming areas had declined by 68% due to land-use changes, including conversion for agriculture, plantations, and infrastructure such as roads and settlements. These disruptions have contributed to the frequency and severity of encounters between people and wildlife.
The JRTB, where the collision happened, cuts through an important elephant corridor between the forests of Perak and Kelantan. The baby elephant was struck by a 10-tonne lorry transporting chickens near the Gerik-Jeli border.
A gut-wrenching video of the calf’s mother attempting to push the lorry to free her offspring went viral, prompting widespread public outcry.
Current and long-term measures
To reduce the risk of similar incidents, the Wildlife Department (Perhilitan) has been carrying out a range of mitigation measures along over 100km of the East-West Highway. These include regular patrols and monitoring along winding, low-visibility stretches, which have been identified as elephant conflict hotspots.
Three permanent Electric Elephant Fencing Systems have been built in conflict-prone villages, including Kampung Bukit Sapi-Kampung Batu Reng, RPS Air Banun, and Bersia.
Meanwhile, two artificial saltlicks have been constructed under the Central Forest Spine ecological viaduct linking the Temengor, Amanjaya and Belum forest reserves in Gerik.
Authorities have also installed 19 elephant crossing signs, two large billboards, and an LED monitoring device to alert drivers to elephant movement. Streetlights have been placed at 16 high-risk spots, with eight more locations identified for installation. Additionally, seven new areas have also been designated for additional wildlife crossing warnings.
Perhilitan is also increasing public education efforts through social media, short videos, and posters – particularly during festive periods when road traffic spikes –to guide road users on safety measures during elephant encounters.
The ministry is also conducting awareness programmes involving local communities and road users to promote safer coexistence.
A 200m viaduct at KM157 of the highway, completed in 2015 under the Central Forest Spine initiative, was built specifically to enable safe wildlife crossings. The RM26 million project was implemented in collaboration with the Public Works Department, said the statement.
However, Nik Nazmi said long-term solutions require stronger coordination between the federal and state governments, as wildlife and forests fall under state jurisdiction. He urged states to establish ecological corridors to connect elephant habitats, including on plantations or private land.
He also proposed that plantation operators work with authorities to create mini-corridors within estates and plant natural food sources to reduce elephant reliance on commercial crops. In the long term, elephant sanctuaries of at least 10,000 hectares should be set up in key states.
Streetlights should also be installed at major elephant crossing points to enhance visibility for motorists. Nik Nazmi noted that while the federal government can lead policy and implementation, the success of mitigation efforts depends on joint responsibility from all stakeholders – including plantation owners, developers, local communities, and road users.
To support conservation, the government has since 2019 channelled RM800 million through the Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation (EFT), including RM250 million this year. These funds allow states to protect critical habitats and mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
The EFT initiative has helped gazette 90,000 hectares of new protected areas, including an additional 14,000 hectares of Permanent Forest Reserves.
However, Nik Nazmi stressed that financial aid alone was not enough.
“Public awareness must be strengthened – because elephant protection is not only a matter of conservation, but of preserving ecological balance and national heritage,” he said.
Yesterday, the minister highlighted that a total of 2,361 wild animals have been killed in road accidents across Malaysia since 2020, with Pahang recording the highest number at 765 cases.
Perak recorded 478 deaths, followed by Kelantan (224), Terengganu (201) and Negeri Sembilan (187), Bernama reported.
He also noted an increase in Malayan tiger roadkills, with no fatalities from 2020 to 2022, but one in 2023, three in 2024, and another already recorded this year. – May 13, 2025