Kuala lumpur: The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) is installing signboards with light-emitting diode (LED) lights in areas identified as elephant crossing points, said its director-general, Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim. He stated that the initiative aims to alert road users to reduce their speed to prevent accidents involving the animals.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the director-general highlighted a recent incident involving an elephant calf in Gerik as a catalyst for this initiative. The new approach includes the installation of LED signboards not only in Gerik, Perak, but also in Ulu Muda, Kedah, and Jerteh, Terengganu. This strategy extends to protecting other wild animals such as tapirs on Persiaran Mokhtar Dahari, Selangor.

Abdul Kadir also noted that the number of wild elephants in Peninsular Malaysia is estimated to be between 1,500 and 1,800. He expressed concern over the declining population due to shrinking habitat areas. He explained that the reduction in habitat forces these wild animals to venture into villages in search of food, leading to increased human-elephant interactions.

To address the issue of elephant encroachment, Perhilitan takes steps to relocate the animals to national parks where they can find food and live more comfortably. The relocation efforts are part of the department's ongoing commitment to wildlife conservation and ensuring the safety of both animals and humans.