GEORGE TOWN: Penang Hill’s Unesco Biosphere Reserve is facing mounting pressure from high visitor numbers, with littering, wildlife disturbance and unauthorised activities raising concern.
Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng said the challenge was to balance public access while protecting the hill’s ecological and heritage landscape.
“While most are responsible visitors, some stray into restricted areas, leading to disturbance of native flora and fauna.
“Littering, feeding animals, improper waste disposal and inappropriate use of public spaces pose ongoing management challenges,” he said.
“Human-wildlife interaction is a concern, especially feeding or approaching wildlife such as the dusky leaf langur, which can create safety risks for the animals and visitors and disrupt natural ecological patterns.”
Cheok said mitigation efforts included educational signage, awareness campaigns, engagement with hiking groups, nature classroom education programmes and collaborations through the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve Office.
He said there were isolated cases of unauthorised camping, cooking and littering.
Camping is not permitted in public spaces and common areas on Penang Hill, including forested areas and sensitive zones within the biosphere reserve.
“While these incidents are not widespread, they are taken seriously as even a small fire can pose risks,” he said.
Cheok also said PHC worked with the state Forestry Department, state Wildlife and National Parks Department and other authorities to address cases involving protected species, environmental damage or breaches of the law.
“Monitoring is conducted through cameras, ground patrols, site inspections, staff observations, reports from hikers and visitors and collaboration with stakeholders and local communities,” he said.
