KUALA LUMPUR: There have been 30,786 cases of wildlife disturbances between 2012 and 2016, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (pic).

He said this when replying to a question from Datuk Noor Eshauddin Mohd Harun (BN-Kota Tinggi) during Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday, adding that this was due to rapid development and human encroachment into the habitat of wild animals.

Dr Wan Junaidi said that measures such as population culling, trapping, the tracking and relocation of elephants and monkeys were carried out to reduce conflicts between wildlife and humans.

"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 also said that approximately 302km of anti-elephant electrified fencing was set up in Johor, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak and Kelantan between 2009 and 2015.

He, however, added that an additional 220km of electrified fencing is needed in Kedah, Pahang, Johor, Perak and Terengganu and said that the cost of the fencing would come up to RM11mil and said that there is also a need to place satellite collars on 32 herds of elephants to track them as part of an early warning system.

On the issue of compensation, Dr Wan Junaidi also agreed to consider a proposal by Noor Eshauddin for the setting up of a fund to compensate victims whose crops and properties were damaged by elephants.
 

Resource :  The Star Online