KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of various initiatives under the Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation (EFT) fund has delivered positive results, reducing human- elephant conflict cases in Johor by over 30%.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said complaints related to human-elephant conflict dropped 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 Mersing 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 the question- and-answer session in Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Bernama reported.
He was responding to a question from Tenggara MP Manndzri Nasib regarding 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 the Elephant Electric Fencing System (SPEG).
Arthur added that RM900,000 from the EFT allocation had also been channelled towards mitigation programmes under the Johor Rural Strategic Roadmap, including the establishment of Wildlife Protection Communities in five villages as an initial phase.
On efforts to expand SPEG, the minister said RM30mil had been allocated under the 13th Malaysia Plan to strengthen protection, control, prevention of encroachment and mitigation of elephant-related threats in high-conflict areas.
This includes the construction of physical barriers, installation of electric fencing systems, procurement of mitigation equipment and maintenance and repair works for 17 existing SPEG facilities across Peninsular Malaysia.
