IPOH: Plantation owners may be asked to set aside part of their land for wildlife food banks to minimise human-elephant conflicts.
Perak Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director Yusoff Shariff said this was discussed during the Elephant Task Force meeting last month.
“For now, we are just floating the idea to them (plantation owners) to create food banks.
“This is a step to reduce the destruction of their agricultural land as well,” he told The Star on Wednesday (Nov 20).
ALSO READ: Wild elephants damage cars and leave 14 people shaken
Yusoff said currently in Perak the department has put up 10 artificial salt licks as a mineral source for wildlife, especially elephants, nine of them located in Hulu Perak and Gerik.
“The department is waiting for the Perak Elephant Sanctuary to be completed along the Gerik-Jeli East=West Highway before we proceed with the food banks.
“(We plan) to establish food banks around the sanctuary, with an area of 20.24ha (50 acres).
“There isn’t one (food bank) in Perak yet. Currently food banks are found in Terengganu, Pahang, Johor and Kelantan.
“If we are talking about a true food bank, we will plant Napier grass (for grazing), but so far there is nothing like that in Perak,” he added.
ALSO READ: Man trampled by elephant near East-West Highway monument
He said technical works at the sanctuary have begun, and engineering surveying is expected to start next year.
“We expect the sanctuary to be operational by 2028,” he added.
Perak science, environment and green technology committee chairman Teh Kok Lim said in connection with the food bank idea, Perhilitan has been identifying specific areas to address the food chain supply issue.
On efforts by the state government to reduce accidents involving wildlife along the highways, Teh said more signboards would be put up warning road users of possible animal crossings.
“We hope to install more signboards, including those with LED lighting, at critical areas.
“We hope they will remind motorists to reduce speed,” he added.
