Malaysian government not doing enough to protect wild elephants
Friends of the Earth Malaysia (FOEM) is astounded at the death of yet another wild elephant in Gerik, Perak. The incident occurred on January 3 when a 40-year-old female elephant was electrocuted by a live wire on a construction site.
The herd of elephants had come into populated areas foraging for food. These pachyderms have lost their natural habitats due to extensive and uncontrolled land clearance leading to increasingly fragmented habitats. According to an elephant expert, a suitable habitat is lost when roads are built that traverse grasslands and bring vehicular traffic.
FOEM, NGOs, and members of the community have expressed concern on several occasions over the number of roadkill deaths of elephants and other endangered species, but it appears that the Malaysian highway authorities have not considered addressing the many letters published in the media.
Malaysian elephants are exposed to dangers from all fronts – from becoming targeted by poachers, collisions with vehicles, poisoning, and being shot or killed by plantation workers. The future of our elephants is bleak.
The electrocution of this lactating female elephant brings to mind a similar incident in Sabah where seven endangered pygmy elephants died in an abandoned quarry pond last year. It is irresponsible to leave work projects that are a hazard to humans and animals.
What if a human had ventured or gone near the cabin and accidentally stepped on the live wire? The loss of one elephant is a number less and what about its baby? It may follow the herd but what are its chances of survival without its mother?
