PETALING JAYA: From elephants encroaching into residential areas to multiple tiger sightings reported since January this year, human-wildlife interactions are no longer uncommon.
Wildlife experts and conservationists attribute this to habitat loss, adding that it signals a need to increase protected areas.
They say it was also important for wildlife conservation areas to be stabilised and rebuilt where necessary.
Environment Protection Society of Malaysia vice-president Randolph Jeremiah said a continued push to increase the size of protected areas, such as forest reserves, was required.
“This is to stem the loss of unprotected forests, which are also habitats for wildlife.
“Landscape-level conservation, through ensuring the physical connectivity of isolated patches, allowing wildlife to roam freely, and avoiding human settlements, is also important when we factor in forest loss.
“The implementation of plans such as the Central Forest Spine Master Plan in Peninsular Malaysia remains critical,” he said.
He added there was also a need to rethink how land was utilised, along with designing linear infrastructure to limit the conversion of natural habitats.
This was particularly true in areas that remained unprotected, Jeremiah said.
“In unavoidable circumstances, however, all development must be optimised to incorporate solutions that mitigate the impact on wildlife populations,” he said.
Jeremiah added that any interactions with wildlife can be dangerous and should be avoided.
“If you do encounter them, the first step is to keep safely away before calling the relevant authorities, such as the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) or the Fire and Rescue Department, who are trained to deal with them,” he said.
Ecotourism and Conservation Society Malaysia president Andrew Sebastian said there may no longer be a clear demarcation between buffer zones in protected areas.
“The public has to push our politicians to call for the creation of more protected areas while also monitoring the buffer zones, which are critical,” he said.
He added that habitat loss was one of the main reasons for the increase in human-wildlife conflicts.
“Intrusion of human activities into these animal domains causes the food chain to be distorted.
“This includes logging and increased poaching. Poachers also prey on carnivores such as tigers, forcing them out of their natural landscapes,” he said.
Separately, Sebastian said that the seemingly harmless act of feeding wildlife was not actually beneficial.
“Getting the animals accustomed to close contact is not a good thing. Just take, for example, Kuala Selangor, where people feed the primates, with the animals hopping onto humans too.
“It’s bad for humans and primates, due to the increased possibilities of not only animal attacks but also animal viruses spreading to humans,” he said.
He added that the government should empower and give more resources to the Forestry and Wildlife departments to ensure there are more monitoring stations and patrolling personnel.
“More hotlines could be established for people to call if they sight wildlife that is endangered or dangerous to humans,” he said.
“Nature needs to be given more respect, with protected areas given more space and more awareness programmes going on,” he added.
Ecological Association of Malaysia president Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail said all identified wildlife conservation areas needed to be stabilised and rebuilt where applicable.
“Participation among government agencies, NGOs and local authorities is equally important to protect and conserve wildlife while also reducing human-wildlife conflicts,” he said.
He said more research and continuous wildlife monitoring were needed to promote less human-wildlife conflict.
“Understanding the biology and ecology of wildlife allows for better ways to manage them as well,” he said.
On the recent spate of tiger sightings reported earlier this year, Prof Ahmad said it could be related to shrinking habitats and fewer potential prey.
“Tiger sightings and potential interactions with humans are serious as the animal is known to live away from human settlements.
“The presence of these animals near settlements alongside regular sightings could also present more opportunities to poachers,” he said.
