Kuala lumpur: The presence of stray animals such as dogs and cats, along with wildlife like monkeys, in urban areas is not a new issue. However, in some areas, the problem has escalated to a worrying level, with residents claiming that authorities are slow to act on their complaints.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the final article in this three-part special report examines the role of Perhilitan in addressing human-wildlife conflicts in residential areas, particularly in urban settings. In the past, wild boars would only venture into villages in remote rural areas. These days, however, the animals can be sighted in urban areas, especially in newly developed townships.

Viral posts on social media have also shown other animals, such as the endangered tapir, wandering into residential areas in apparent search of food - as happened in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, in March this year. Earlier, in January, a wild elephant was spotted roaming in Taman Seri Impian in Kluang, Johor.

Financial losses caused by wildlife intrusions nationwide - including wild elephant incursions into plantations, farms and villages, as well as predator attacks such as tigers preying on livestock ­- amounted to RM46.5 million between 2020 and 2024, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability. This underscores the fact that human-wildlife conflicts are on the rise, requiring decisive action from the authorities, particularly since most of the wildlife involved are protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716).

SCALE OF CONFLICT

Selangor Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) director Wan Mohd Adib Wan Mohd Yusoh said most cases of wildlife disturbances reported in the state involve monkeys. Of the 18,444 complaints received by Perhilitan Selangor from 2023 to May 2025, a total of 14,515 or nearly 80 percent concerned monkeys, with Kajang, Petaling, Sepang and Ampang recording the highest numbers. Wan Mohd Adib said these animals are venturing closer to human settlements because their forest habitats are shrinking, adding that human 'interference' is also altering their behaviour.

CONTROL STRATEGY

On measures taken to address the issue, Wan Mohd Adib said Perhilitan Selangor follows established standard operating procedures, beginning with an on-site investigation and risk assessment before taking physical action such as scaring wild animals away with gunfire or capturing and relocating them. In critical situations where aggressive animals threaten human safety, a 'shoot-to-kill operation' will be carried out.

For other species, such as wild boars, the control approach requires greater safety considerations due to their size and potential danger, including conducting joint operations with local authorities. 'Complaints about wild boars usually come to us through the local authorities, and their presence is often linked to food sources from poorly managed waste disposal. that's the main factor attracting these animals.

At the national level, Perhilitan has reportedly implemented several support initiatives, including introducing a scheme to compensate communities whose crops and property are damaged by wildlife attacks. The scheme has been allocated RM10 million.

STRENGTHEN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT PLAN

Wan Mohd Adib also said conflicts often occur in buffer zones around development projects, especially new ones. In this context, he said every new development project must submit an Environmental Impact Assessment report that includes a Wildlife Management Plan, which must receive Perhilitan's approval.

He added that Perhilitan works closely with agencies such as the Public Works Department to implement these measures as well as regularly monitor the implementation. He said the department is also proactive in finding more humane solutions to control the populations of wildlife, such as monkeys.

MORE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

Meanwhile, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia lecturer Associate Professor Dr Azlan Abas called for more humane and sustainable solutions to address the presence of stray animals such as dogs and cats in urban areas. Azlan, who is attached to the university's Environmental Management Programme, said the issue reflects a 'crisis in planning, policy gaps and a lack of empathy in modern urban systems'.

Azlan proposed the establishment of a Malaysian Urban Animal Management Centre as a national coordinating body to formulate policies on mitigating human-animal conflict, conduct training, monitor implementation and coordinate inter-agency action involving Perhilitan, local authorities and non-governmental organisations. He said Malaysia could also develop a similar smart system, injecting scientific elements, accountability and effectiveness into urban animal management.