Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions in Malaysia: A Critical Situation That Demands Urgent Change

Strategic Insights -

Wildlife-vehicle collisions have become a dire concern in Malaysia, particularly in the Belum-Temengor landscape. On the morning of May 11, 2025, a heartbreaking incident saw an elephant calf fatally struck by a poultry lorry on the Gerik-Jeli Highway. This tragedy highlights a disturbing trend of wildlife-vehicle collisions that have claimed over 2,500 animals between 2016 and 2021, including at least 102 Malayan tapirs and six Malayan tigers in the last two years alone. The East-West Highway has become a hotspot for these tragedies, with multiple incidents along the same highway where the elephant calf perished.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Belum-Temengor forest complex is one of Southeast Asia's most critical biodiversity strongholds, housing endangered megafauna such as the Malayan tiger, Asian elephant, sun bear, and Malayan tapir.
  • Between 2016 and 2021, over 2,500 animals were killed by vehicles on Malaysian roads, with the East-West Highway being a hotspot for wildlife-vehicle collisions.
  • Artificial lighting risks disturbing wildlife behavior, and suggestions like building overpasses or underpasses may be impractical in this mountainous terrain.
  • An immediate night-time ban on heavy vehicles using the Gerik-Jeli Highway, similar to India's Bandipur Tiger Reserve, could eliminate the deadliest risks and reduce wildlife deaths by 80%.
  • Road usage must be optimized, with poultry and construction transport being rerouted via alternate logistics and buses and public transport being subject to speed limiters and trip quotas to ensure safety.
  • Technology can help, with drones equipped with thermal cameras detecting wildlife near roadways, triggering warning signs, and internet-of-things (IoT) devices and AI tools enabling real-time monitoring of animal movement and poaching threats.
  • Funding for these efforts is feasible through Malaysia's Ecological Fiscal Transfer (EFT) mechanism, which rewards states for conservation action.

Statistics:

  • Over 2,500 animals were killed by vehicles on Malaysian roads between 2016 and 2021.
  • At least 102 Malayan tapirs and six Malayan tigers were killed in the last two years alone.
  • India's Bandipur Tiger Reserve saw an 80% drop in wildlife deaths after implementing a night-time ban on heavy vehicles.
  • The East Coast Rail Link can be used to reroute poultry and construction transport.
  • A RM250 million allocation in the 2025 federal budget is available through the Ecological Fiscal Transfer (EFT) mechanism for conservation efforts.

Sources:

  • Dr Jayaraj Vijaya Kumaran, senior lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, and project lead for "Securing the resiliency and sustainability of Royal Belum Forest against the impact of climate change"
  • Malay Mail, published by HT Digital Content Services with permission.