We are nearing half of 2025 and in May, we were surprised by 2 accidents which involved the killing of baby elephants. One of them happened at the East-West Highway in Perak, where a baby elephant was killed by a lorry. In a tragic scene, the mother stood watch over her calf's body for hours, refusing to leave it. Two days later, on May 13, an elephant and a couple's vehicle crashed on the Johor Bahru–Mersing route. The driver was unable to avoid colliding with one of the four elephants that had abruptly crossed the road.

Rare and endangered species including the Malayan tiger, tapir, and Asian elephant can be found in Malaysia, which is endowed with a wealth of biodiversity. However, natural habitats are becoming fragmented due to the rapid expansion of urbanization and infrastructure development, pushing wildlife to cross roads and highways in search of mates, food, and water. Highways such as the WCE and PLUS frequently cut through their habitats, resulting in the stranding of animals or the necessity for them to traverse busy roads.

In states like Pahang, Terengganu, and Johor, this has resulted in a dramatic rise in incidents between wildlife and vehicles, especially involving elephants. Numerous incidents involving these enormous creatures being killed or seriously hurt in accidents—some of which have even put human lives in danger—have been reported by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN).

According to the Auditor-General's Report, Pahang had the most wildlife roadkill incidences in Peninsular Malaysia, with 2,562 instances reported between 2016 and 2021. There are less than 150 Malayan tigers remaining in the wild, thus it is concerning that five of them were killed in roadkill events between 2023 and 2024.

Global Initiative To Combat Wildlife Death At The Highway

Some nations have taken proactive steps to address this issue by building wildlife crossing structures such as viaducts, eco-bridges, and underpasses to provide safe passage for animals across roads. In addition to lowering roadkill, these structures promote long-term animal survival by protecting natural migration paths. Although there are a few wildlife crossings in Malaysia, including the viaducts along the East Coast Motorway, their quantity and scope are still insufficient to address the scope of the issue on a national level.

Urgent questions are brought up by this: Why is Malaysian investment in this kind of infrastructure so low? What obstacles stand in the way of wildlife bridges being widely used? Most importantly, how many more mishaps need to occur before the importance of practical fixes is given top priority? These issues necessitate careful consideration and, more crucially, prompt action to guarantee that environmental preservation and development coexist.

Wildlife Crossing Implementation Around The World

These tunnels are made especially for wildlife, allowing them to travel between woodland ecosystems without becoming roadkill. Animals may safely cross busy roadways without coming into contact with cars thanks to specially constructed underpasses called wildlife tunnels. They restore forest regions that have been divided by roads, enabling wildlife to roam freely in pursuit of food, partners, and refuge.

To reduce the negative effects of highways on animal populations, a number of nations are actively constructing wildlife crossing bridges. This strategy was first used in the Netherlands, where numerous green bridges were constructed to allow animals to traverse roads and other infrastructure. Wildlife crossing bridges are also being built in other nations, such as Canada and the US (California in particular), as a component of conservation and habitat restoration initiatives. The installation of wildlife crossings and fencing in Canada's Banff National Park has resulted in a more than 80% decrease in incidents between wildlife and vehicles. 

Does Malaysia Not Have Any Wildlife Crossings?

In Malaysia we already have some of this wildlife crossing bridges and underpass. Some of it is at Gerik–Jeli Highway (Federal Route 4) which is known for elephant underpasses and frequent wildlife crossings and Belum–Temengor Forest Complex (Perak) , a Wildlife underpasses designed for large mammals. Elephants can fit through some of these tunnels. Large underpasses allow elephants to travel securely in locations like Temengor and Gerik. Wildlife has even been captured on camera traps using these crossings, proving that they are effective.

However we only have a few. The belief that such infrastructure is costly and unnecessary is one of the primary reasons Malaysia has not made building more wildlife bridges a top priority. In actuality, the long-term ecological and financial advantages of constructing animal bridges greatly exceed the initial high cost. Environmental mitigation measures are frequently neglected by the government in favour of subsidising urbanisation and road construction. Because of this reactive approach, there are numerous wildlife-related accidents that result in not just animal deaths but also car damage, traffic jams, and in extreme situations, human fatalities. The price of prevention is much lower than the price of inaction.

Coordination and planning present another difficulty. Many roadways are built without consulting conservation experts or conducting comprehensive wildlife impact evaluations. Animals are forced to cross open highways as a result of roads being constructed that cut through important migration routes. Developers may design the route to cause the least amount of disturbance or include wildlife-friendly features right away if environmental impact evaluations were required before any road work started. In order to incorporate ecological factors into infrastructure projects, PERHILITAN, the Public Works Department (JKR), and roadway developers must work together across agencies.

Is Time For Malaysia to Add More Wildlife Crossings

Malaysia must adopt a growth model that balances advancement with sustainability if it is to advance. This entails boosting ecological infrastructure spending, fortifying environmental regulations, and educating the public about the value of protecting animals. According to Director of Conservation at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Malaysia, Dr. Henry Chan, said that specific allocations for building wildlife overpasses or viaducts should be included in the 13th Malaysia Plan.

The project will take a long time to complete and will cost tens of millions of ringgits. The 13th Malaysia Plan (2026–2030) must include financial planning. Tens of millions of ringgits will be needed to build the viaduct. In large forested areas like Gerik and Jeli, this viaduct is only used in specific locations for animal crossings," he stated.

In conclusion, the growing incidence of traffic accidents in Malaysia that involve wildlife, especially elephants, serves as a stark reminder that immediate action is required to safeguard both people and animals. Wildlife bridges are a workable, tried-and-true way to encourage development and conservation to coexist. Malaysia can set the path for a more sustainable and caring future by funding these crossings, incorporating environmental planning into infrastructure projects, and encouraging cooperation among stakeholders. Preserving our natural heritage and making sure that advancement does not come at the expense of humans or wildlife are more important goals than merely conserving animals.