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LETTER | Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is astounded at the death of yet another wild elephant in Gerik, Perak. The incident occurred on Jan 3 when a 40-year-old female elephant was electrocuted by a live wire at a construction site.

The herd of elephants came into populated areas foraging for food. These pachyderms have lost their natural habitat due to extensive and uncontrolled land clearance leading to increasingly fragmented habitats.

According to an elephant expert, suitable habitat is lost when roads are built that traverse grasslands and bring in automobile traffic.

SAM, NGOs and members of the community have expressed concern on several occasions over the number of roadkill deaths of elephants and other endangered species but it appears that the Malaysian highway authorities have not considered addressing the many concerns published in the media.

Even letters from SAM to the highway authorities have gone unanswered to this day.

Malaysian elephants are exposed to dangers from all fronts - from becoming targeted by poachers, automobile accidents, poisoning and shot and killed by plantation workers. The future of our elephants is bleak.

The electrocution of this lactating female elephant brings to mind a similar incident in Sabah where seven endangered pygmy elephants died in an abandoned quarry pond last year.

In the latest case, it is irresponsible to leave work projects that are a hazard to both human and animal.

Which government body, department or agency is responsible for putting up the cabin and later abandoning it upon completion of its project without disconnecting the electrical supply?

Who will be held responsible for this unsafe worksite? What if a human had ventured or gone near the cabin and accidentally stepped on the live wire?

The loss of one elephant is a number less and what about its baby? It may follow the herd but what are its chances of survival without its mother?

This cause of death should be clearly investigated and not taken lightly by the wildlife department. Such irresponsible action of the parties involved should not be condoned.

Given this situation and neglect of safety protocol, SAM urges the wildlife department to conduct an in-depth probe into the unfortunate incident and the investigations and findings to be made public at the soonest time possible.


The writer is president, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM).

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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