Kuala lumpur: Transboundary haze not only threatens human health, but also has a long-term effect on the survival of ecosystems and wildlife populations due to habitat destruction and disruption of the respiratory system. Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Environmental Governance expert Assoc Prof Dr Haliza Abdul Rahman highlighted these impacts recently.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the UPM head of Laboratory Institute for Social Science Studies emphasized that the haze leads to chronic respiratory damage, decreased reproduction rates, dehydration, and lack of food sources for fauna. Large mammals and primates such as orangutans in Borneo and Sumatra face respiratory tract infections due to forest fires, which also affect the availability of their food sources.
Dr Haliza noted that haze impacts not only humans but also animals and plants. Toxic smoke disrupts the life cycles of pollinating insects like bees and fireflies and affects food availability for fruit-eating animals such as hornbills. Speaking on Bernama Radio's 'Fokus 30' programme, she mentioned that thick haze reduces visibility for wildlife, increasing the risk of these animals straying from their natural habitats into forest fringes or human settlements.
Animals fleeing from fires or trapped in thick haze lose energy due to dehydration and starvation, weakening species such as deer and tapirs. The situation indirectly raises the risk of wildlife becoming easy targets for poachers, particularly when enforcement focuses on firefighting operations and managing the haze crisis.
To mitigate these risks, Dr Haliza proposed forming a multi-agency rapid response team involving the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). She also recommended implementing wildlife rescue and relocation protocols, constructing emergency migration corridors, and using early warning systems based on artificial intelligence (AI) and air quality sensors in forest reserve areas.
The entire Serian Division in Sarawak was declared a disaster emergency following hazardous haze conditions, with the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading reaching 514 as of 4 pm today. His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, consented to the declaration of an emergency after considering advice from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, and relevant agencies on air quality in the area.