KUALA LUMPUR: Efforts are being intensified to address the alarming rise in wildlife roadkill incidents, says the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry.
The ministry said this followed over 2,300 such cases recorded nationwide between 2020 and last year.
The East-West Highway, linking Gerik in Perak and Jeli in Kelantan, has been identified as one of the deadliest stretches for wildlife.
“Protecting both human and wildlife safety on our roads is a shared responsibility.
“We must act now with practical, whole-of-society solutions to reduce roadkill,” it said yesterday.
On July 17, the ministry through the Wildlife and National Parks Department and WWF-Malaysia, convened a high-level roundtable to identify urgent infrastructure measures for safer highways.
The session gathered 60 stakeholders from key ministries, state governments, non-governmental organisations, the private sector, highway concessionaires and the Selangor and Federal Territory Engineering and Motor Parts Traders Association.
The ministry said the short-term measures proposed include strengthening legislation, installing eco-friendly signboards, raising driver awareness and encouraging responsible road behaviour.
“Medium- and long-term solutions involve habitat enrichment, improving forest connectivity and preserving existing wildlife crossings,” it added.
