Install Speed Bumps At Key Wildlife Crossings Govt Urged

---

 Conservation group WWF says signboards to remind drivers to slow down have not proven sufficient, and it is time to look into ‘more tangible deterrents’.
TikTok users posted videos of the mother elephant, which they said patiently waited until daybreak for its baby to be removed from under the lorry.PETALING JAYA: Conservation group WWF has called on the government to consider installing speed bumps at key wildlife crossings, after a baby elephant was killed in a collision along the East-West Highway early yesterday morning
WWF said existing signboards to remind drivers to slow down have not proven sufficient, and it was time to look into “more tangible deterrents”.
“Installing speed bumps at key wildlife crossing points may prove to be far more effective in compelling drivers to reduce speed.
“Doing so not only protects wildlife, it also enhances the safety of motorists,” it said in a statement.
WWF said that apart from speed bumps, there was a need for wildlife viaducts and underpasses as well as public awareness campaigns.
Yesterday, a lorry hit the calf when it is said to have suddenly exited the forest on the left side of the highway.
The incident caught the attention of social media users who posted videos of the mother elephant, which they said patiently waited until daybreak for its baby to be removed from under the lorry.
WWF said the heartbreaking incident underscored the urgent need for improved wildlife protection measures along the Gerik-Jeli highway, a known hotspot for wildlife crossings.
It said conservationists and concerned members of the public have long been calling for stricter enforcement of speed limits, improved lighting, and most critically, the construction of wildlife crossings to reduce fatal accidents involving endangered species.
“There is already one dedicated wildlife viaduct along this highway, but more such infrastructure is urgently needed here to support safe passage for wild animals,” it said.
Earlier today, a road safety activist, Hisham Shafe, called for a comprehensive review of precautionary measures following the incident which, he said, reflected a continued failure to address road safety issues in areas that intersect with wildlife habitats. - FMT

---