The new Wildlife Protection Community Module in Johor is a guideline to help local communities detect and respond to human-wildlife conflicts more effectively. - Courtesy photo
A new training module has been rolled out in Johor as a guideline to help local communities detect and respond to human-wildlife conflicts more effectively.
State health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the Wildlife Protection Community Module aimed to equip residents in high-risk areas with knowledge and skills to conduct early detection and mitigation efforts.
He said the module, developed by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), focuses on training for identifying key wildlife species, safety procedures when encountering wild animals and the use of approved deterrent tools.
“It also covers protocols for reporting and issuing early warnings to Perhilitan, besides organising trained community members into area-based groups that serve as on-ground support teams,” he said at the state assembly sitting at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar.
Ling said trained community members would also be involved in community patrols, relay real-time information and carry out early deterrence measures in line with the department’s standard operating procedures.
He said the initiative was expected to strengthen community preparedness and awareness, particularly in hotspot areas.
It would also align with a co-management approach involving government agencies and local communities to balance public safety with biodiversity conservation.
Ling was responding to Hahasrin Hashim (BN-Panti), who asked about the use of drones or night patrols at wildlife hotspots and measures to increase community awareness.
Ling said Perhilitan had expanded the use of drones equipped with aerial recording capabilities and thermal imaging to monitor the movement of large species such as elephants and tigers.
“This technology allows for faster, safer and wider coverage, especially at night.
“The information gathered helps assess wildlife movement patterns and supports rapid control or relocation actions,” he said.
Ling said integrated night patrols with security agencies and local communities had also been strengthened in high-risk areas.
He said such patrols helped detect the early presence of wildlife, carry out early deterrence and channel information directly to Perhilitan’s operations centre for follow-up action while enhancing public safety and reducing risk of property and crop damage.
