Perhilitan Expects Gerik Elephant Sanctuary To Be Operational By 2030

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Perak Perhilitan director Yusoff Shariff says the sanctuary will provide a greater assurance of safety than wildlife crossings which are only used by animals in a particular area.Based on Perhilitan’s records, 4,919 complaints of human-elephant conflict were reported between 2020 and 2024, with property losses estimated at RM39.4 million. (Bernama pic)IPOH: The Perak Elephant Sanctuary at Jalan Raya Timur-Barat (JRTB) is expected to be completed by 2030, says Perak wildlife and national parks department (Perhilitan) director Yusoff Shariff
He said the RM40 million project was submitted to the economy ministry on May 6 and that any decision on its construction fell entirely under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
“If everything goes smoothly, I think this sanctuary can operate as early as 2028, but for (the infrastructure facility) to be fully completed, perhaps 2030 is a more realistic target,” he said when contacted by Bernama.
Bernama reported on July 18, 2020 that the energy and natural resources ministry had announced the development of the Perak Elephant Sanctuary at Batu 11, JRTB in Gerik.
Based on Perhilitan’s records, 4,919 complaints of human-elephant conflict were reported between 2020 and 2024, with property losses estimated at RM39.4 million.
On the effectiveness of a wildlife crossing at JRTB, Yusoff said the 200m crossing, also known as a viaduct which was built for RM26 million in 2015, had proved helpful but did not guarantee the safety of elephants that inhabit the area along the route.
He said this was because the crossing was built at KM157 of the JRTB and only used by the elephants that inhabit that specific area.
“The viaduct only helps on a small scale and is only used by animals inhabiting that area. So we feel that the setting up of a sanctuary will provide greater safety assurance for both road users and elephants at the JRTB,” he said.
He did not rule out the possibility of building more wildlife crossings along the JRTB if there was a specific allocation for it. - FMT

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