Road users travelling by small vehicles, especially motorcyclists are advised to avoid using the East-West Highway at night to minimise their exposure to the risk of encountering wild animals, particularly elephants, along the route, reported Bernama.
Herds of elephants in the area are typically active at night as they search for food, said wildlife and national parks department (Perhilitan) Perak director Yusoff Shariff.
“Most reported elephant attacks happen from dusk until early morning, as that is when the herds are usually roaming for food. So, when road users travel on the highway during that time, encounters can be unavoidable. So, when road users travel on the highway during that time, encounters can be unavoidable,” Yusoff said.
This follows a report by New Straits Times of an incident last night where an elephant damaged a vehicle last night at KM11 of the East-West Highway.
The stretch of highway that connects Gerik and Jeli appears to be where encounters with wildlife are likely, as elephant-vehicle interactions in the area have documented before. One such instance was in January this year, when a herd of elephants surrounded a a motorist in their Perodua Bezza while on the East-West Highway. There was no reported harm to either motorist or animal in that instance.
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Don’t blame the animals, we are encroaching their habitats. They have been there for ages. We should have known better, why we didn’t provide crossings for them?
Boomee melek si-apa? kakakaka
u seriously think elephant will use the crossings? they will just bulldoze whatever barrier there is
The wild animal crossing Gerik-Jeli highway is more often and it is already many incident that life-death situation. Where is the government? What are they waiting for? There are many logical method to solve…pls do do “bump”, they are too many bump already.
I think there countries in Europe where they created flyover for animal to cross the road. I forgot which country though. In china, they built railway on bridge across reservation wild animal.
Our issues is government always refused to learn from others because they think they knew everything
It is both heartbreaking and frustrating to witness the increasing number of wildlife-related incidents along the Gerik-Jeli highway. These are not isolated events—they are recurring, dangerous situations involving both wild animals and motorists. Let’s be clear: we cannot blame the animals. We are the ones who have encroached upon their natural habitat. They have been here long before we arrived with our roads and developments.
As responsible stewards of this land, we should have anticipated these risks. Why weren’t proper wildlife crossings, underpasses, or overpasses constructed? Why have the warnings not translated into meaningful action? The Gerik-Jeli highway has long been identified as a wildlife corridor. Yet, despite numerous near-death encounters, the silence from the authorities is deafening.
Let us ask respectfully but firmly—where is the urgency? What is the government waiting for? Do we need more lives—human or animal—to be lost before something is done?
There are logical, proven methods to address this. Building proper animal crossings is one. Installing motion-sensor warning systems is another. Increasing enforcement and speed monitoring can also help. But please, no more unnecessary speed bumps—our roads are already riddled with them to the point of inefficiency.
This is not just about animal rights; it’s about public safety and responsible governance. We urge the relevant authorities: don’t let this issue fall asleep under bureaucracy. The time for action is now.