Escalating Human-Wildlife Conflicts: A Call for Sustainable Conservation in Malaysia
The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) is alarmed by the escalating human-wildlife conflicts in Malaysia, exacerbated by rapid urbanization and habitat destruction. Reports of poaching, illegal wildlife trade, roadkill incidents, and displaced animals reveal the severe consequences of deforestation and unregulated land development. A growing human population drives constant encroachment into wildlife habitats, intensifying these conflicts as natural landscapes are replaced by croplands and urban sprawl.
One of the most critical conservation challenges is the loss and fragmentation of wildlife habitats, particularly for large-bodied terrestrial species. Forest loss in Malaysia has reached unprecedented levels. Global Forest Watch (GWF) reported that in 2023 alone, the country lost 133,000 hectares of natural forest, releasing 146 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. Such deforestation has devastated ecosystems, destroying habitats for iconic species like orangutans.
This crisis is further aggravated by excessive resource consumption, short-sighted environmental policies, and international trade that drives species removal from ecosystems. Pangolins remain the world’s most trafficked mammals, while sun bears face a high demand for their gallbladders. The rise of illegal wildlife trafficking on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram enables the rapid trade of endangered species, often evading detection.
Encroachment into wildlife habitats for agriculture, logging, and palm oil plantations accelerates extinctions. Roads built through forests facilitate access for hunters and traffickers, as highlighted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Seattle, USA. Wildlife is often rapidly removed from newly accessible areas, transported to distant towns, or exported to global markets. HSI also reported that after a year of opening a logging road in Malaysia, large mammals disappeared entirely from the areas.
Road infrastructure, another form of encroachment, further endangers wildlife. Highways cutting through habitats lead to frequent roadkill incidents, with tapirs among the most affected. Between 2015 and 2020, 92 Malayan tapirs were killed in vehicle collisions across states like Johor, Pahang, and Selangor.
A recent incident involved a sun bear injured on the LPT Kuantan Highway. Such collisions not only kill individual animals but can significantly impact species populations, especially those already vulnerable to habitat fragmentation.
Six Malayan Tigers have died in “roadkill” incidents between 2023 and 2024, a significant number since there are fewer than 150 left in the wild. Roadkills drive them even closer to extinction.
Wildlife signage and crossings, often promoted as mitigation measures, have proven largely ineffective. Griffith University researcher Professor Darryl Jones notes that warning signs are frequently ignored as motorists grow habituated to them. Similarly, poorly designed eco-viaducts fail to attract animals, reducing their utility. Enhancements like incorporating forest elements, salt licks, and additional fencing could improve their effectiveness.
The 2022 Auditor-General’s Report recorded 2,562 wildlife roadkill incidents from 2016 to 2021, with Pahang reporting the highest numbers. Despite efforts like the Central Forest Spine (CFS), a forest landscape project established in 2010 to connect fragmented forests, critical areas like the Jemaluang and Tenggaroh reserves were excluded. These biodiverse regions host over 200 bird species, 60 mammal species, and 30 reptile and amphibian species. Yet, in 2014, 15,011 hectares were removed from protection in Johor, highlighting the prioritization of development over conservation.
Governments often favour industrial interests over ecological preservation. Protected areas are increasingly commercialised, and resource extraction continues unchecked, leading to shrinking habitats and declining wildlife populations. Conservation strategies remain piecemeal, failing to address the scale of the problem.
CAP emphasizes the urgent need to integrate conservation into all development plans. Protecting habitats and ensuring connectivity through mechanisms like wildlife corridors, eco-viaducts, and stricter penalties for wildlife-related accidents are crucial to combating biodiversity loss. Stronger regulations and enforcement are essential to curb illegal wildlife trade and prevent further habitat destruction.
Effective conservation requires a holistic approach that balances human needs with ecological preservation. Maintaining protected areas, improving wildlife crossings, and implementing comprehensive conservation strategies can mitigate human-wildlife conflict and safeguard Malaysia’s rich biodiversity for future generations.
Mohideen Abdul Kader
President
Consumers Association of Penang
Letter to the Editor, 26 November 2024