The government says that there are plans to build wildlife crossings on the East Coast Expressway 2 (LPT2), the move being to provide safe crossings for wild animals such as tigers, elephants and tapirs. Recently, several road accidents have been reported along the route, which resulted in the death of several wildlife animals, including a tiger and a tapir.
According to deputy public works minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin, the proposed crossings are in response to recent accident cases involving wild animals and livestock that strayed onto the highway, The Star reports. “A meeting was held with the Wildlife and National Parks Department on February 16, and it was agreed to improve the highway by opening underpass animal crossings. Suitable locations for the crossings are being identified,” she said.
“Between February 1 last year and February 29 this year, there were a total of 133 accidents involving wild animals and livestock which resulted in fatalities. This number represents 12% out of the 1,094 accidents along the highway,” she added.
Despite steps taken by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) to fence the areas off, she said there had been cases where the fencing was damaged or cut by locals living beside the expressway. “Some of the locals cut the fencing to create illegal access to the highway,” she said, adding that measures are being taken to improve monitoring of the highway, including the building of barbed-wire fencing and installation of closed-circuit television cameras at high-risk areas.
In February, it was reported that a detailed study to build wildlife crossings was being carried out by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) and the LLM. The Terengganu state government said it welcomed the suggestion put forth by the Works Ministry to build Skyway routes in several locations along the LPT2.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
Rare goods news from the government. Please do much much more to protect the wild life.
Why does the Government need to pay for this? Ask the crony concessionaire to pay for this. After all, the crony concessionaire got a 40 to 50 years contract for free money. this should be their responsibility.
Also, the concessionaire should gate the whole highway and have daily patrols to check for any breakages.
Why use our money?
they need to provide training courses for these wild animals so they learn how to use the wildlife crossings.
also need to include signboards to show the animals where the crossings are.
Animal crossings are common features in many parts of the worlds. Netherlands, England, US are some places where you can find them. Google “wildlife crossings” to for more info.
In Malaysia we already have several in fact – along Grik – Jeli highways. They are bridges that are not exactly necessary, but were built anyway so that wildlife can pass through underneath. The exact locations are not made public to avoid poachers and casual highway users from stopping by to watching them. The very act of stopping and watching will scare these animal away.
Brilliant idea (if they works as intended).
I was involved in an accident involving a few monkeys… very sad – wish it was avoidable.
Animals don’t cross roads. Chicken or cats or dogs or elephant they don’t stop and say… I want to cross the road.
Anyway, a good business prospects for the cronies
buat complaint, tak buat pun complaint.
What about wild boar? Will they be approved by Jakim?
Always wondered, how will the wildlife know where to cross. Are there methods to direct them to the safe crossings?
Animals have stronger survival instincts than humans. Just give them an alternative route to cross and they will know what to do.
Use the millions to build a protection center instead of this. Unless there’s planning for public usage otherwise it will be another venue for weekend racing if you know what i mean.
Protection centre? You trust those people to protect the animals? Even if they are dedicated saints, it would be artificial, not natural. Anyway, humans are the ones destroying their habitat. So it’s only fair to give them a safe way through. PLUS builds crossings for kampung folk, so why not animals?
There is no way to protect wildlife by natural way. LPT and palm oil plantation already messed up with their natural habitat. Your idea of building a crossing is not nature friendly..at all.
Dedicated protection center would benefit endangered species. Apart from increase the number of species like Harimau Malaya by breeding program, it creates employment ie: ranger, wildlife medical personnel and so on. Investment and training in these experts is better than expecting wildlife to pass the crossing.
Without going to far from main topic, I dont support this plan because it’s very likely to cost millions. Proper governance on such project is seriously doubtful.
Please built under pass way instead of overhead pass way, as wild animals don’t behave like human being to moving in the open spare and also wild life only follow their regular route with their familiar smell.. as open over bridge will expose with passing by vehicles noise & movements and rain will easily wash away their regular track trace..