Roadkill incidents take toll on wildlife

SEREMBAN: A total of 2,130 wild animals have been killed in road accidents over the past five years, says Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Dr Hamim Samuri.

In the first nine months of this year, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) recorded the deaths of 212 animals, he said.

“Most are endangered species, such as tapirs, sun bears, elephants, mountain goats and tigers,” he said.

He said he was told that tapirs top the list of wildlife species involved in roadkill incidents.

Perhilitan records show that 43 tapirs were killed in road accidents in the last five years,” he said at the Biodiversity Seminar 2017 yesterday.

“Most of the accidents occurred because the animals were trying to cross roads or highways to find shelter, food, mates and habitats,” he said, advising motorists to be more careful and to pay attention at wildlife crossings.

According to Dr Hamim, the Javan rhinoceros is extinct while the Sumatran rhinoceros, Malayan tiger, anteater and banteng (a species of wild cattle) are critically endangered.

Also, 12 other species have been listed as endangered, 14 (vulnerable), 33 (near threatened), 83 (least concerned) and 76 (data deficient) in the Malaysian wildlife record.

“Our wildlife face many threats due to the depletion of their habitats and roaming areas from forest clearing and land-use changes.

“Wildlife populations have also declined, particularly tigers and elephants, because of poaching and the illegal wildlife trade,” he said.

Dr Hamim, said that in 2010, the Wildlife Department located three species of Javan rhino in the country but failed to find any signs of the species this year via its monitoring equipment, including cameras.