Malaysia: Measures in place to contain human-wildlife conflict - Wan Junaidi

The Star 17 Mar 17;

THERE are aggressive wild monkeys to be dealt with among 318,816 of the primates nationwide as a result of human-wildlife conflict.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said rapid development and encroachment of natural habitat had led to humans coming into conflict with the animals.

The “conflict monkeys” were among 30,786 cases of wildlife disturbances recorded by Perhilitan (Department of Wildlife and National Parks) between 2012 and 2016.

“Measures such as population culling, trapping, tracking, relocation of monkeys and elephants were carried out to reduce human-animal conflicts,” Dr Wan Junaidi told Datuk Noor Eshauddin Mohd Harun (BN-Kota Tinggi) during question time.

“For example, we launched a RM50,000 pilot project to trap 2,000 monkeys in Petaling and Hulu Langat on a contract basis,” he added.

Dr Wan Junaidi said 1,102 monkey traps costing RM3.8mil were still needed under the community programme to catch the primates.

In addition, Dr Wan Junaidi said some 302km of elephant electrical fencing was erected in Johor, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak and Kelantan between 2009 and 2015.

However, he noted that an additional 220km of electrical fencing costing RM11mil was still needed in Kedah, Pahang, Johor, Perak and Terengganu.

“There is also a need to place satellite collars on 32 herds of elephants to track them as part of an early warning system,” Dr Wan Junaidi said.

He agreed to consider a proposal by Noor Eshauddin to set up a fund to compensate victims of attacks by elephants, which damaged their crops and property.