Human-wildlife conflict complaints hit 76,000, losses top RM58.7mil
KUALA BERANG: Complaints over human-wildlife conflicts nationwide, particularly those involving elephants, have reached 76,000 since 2021, with property and crop damage exceeding RM58.7 million.
Human-wildlife conflict complaints in Malaysia have surged to 76,000 since 2021, with property and crop damage reaching RM58.7 million, according to the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, Arthur Joseph Kurup. The minister attributed the rise in conflicts to large-scale land clearing for agriculture and development, which has destroyed and encroached on elephants' traditional roaming areas.
The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) has also received complaints involving other species such as monkeys and tigers. To address the issue, a comprehensive solution involving short-, medium- and long-term action plans is needed to balance the ecosystem while allowing for the country's development. The government remains committed to prioritizing public safety, despite the costs associated with relocating elephants to their natural habitats.
Brief written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
