KUALA LUMPUR: Initiatives under the Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation (EFT) fund have delivered positive results, reducing human-elephant conflict cases in Johor by more than 30%.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup (pic) said complaints related to human-elephant conflict in the state declined from about 900 cases in 2024 to only about 600 cases last year.
To sustain the downward trend, he said the government allocated RM600,000 under the EFT fund for the 2025-2026 period to strengthen conflict management through several initiatives, including the Integrated Elephant Translocation Operation Programme.
"This programme involves eight elephant corridor areas, including those in the Mersing district, with a target of relocating 25 wild elephants to more suitable habitats.
"During the implementation period, a total of 29 wild elephants were successfully captured and relocated," he said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (June 29).
Manndzri Nasib (BN-Tenggara) wanted to know the effectiveness of additional EFT allocations and community-based programmes implemented by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) in reducing human-elephant conflict, as well as plans to expand the use of electric fencing systems.
Arthur added that RM900,000 from the EFT allocation had also been channelled towards mitigation programmes under the Johor State Rural Strategic Roadmap, including the establishment of Wildlife Protection Communities in five villages as an initial phase.
On efforts to expand electric fencing implementation, he said the ministry had allocated RM30mil under the 13th Malaysia Plan to strengthen protection, control, prevention of encroachment and mitigation of elephant-related threats in high-conflict areas.
The allocation includes the construction of physical barriers, installation of electric fencing, procurement of mitigation equipment, and maintenance and repair works for 17 existing facilities across Peninsular Malaysia. – Bernama
