The Johor Elephant Sanctuary is expected to reduce human-elephant conflict cases in the state by up to 50% within five years, says the minister.
PETALING JAYA: The Johor Elephant Sanctuary is expected to reduce human-elephant conflict cases in the state by up to 50% within five years, according to Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup.
He told the Dewan Rakyat that the sanctuary, being developed in phases in Tenggara, Johor, will serve as a long-term measure to manage wildlife conflict while improving safety for affected communities.
“Through this project, we are targeting a reduction of up to 50% in human-elephant conflict cases within the next five years.
“At the same time, it will improve the safety of local communities,” he said.
Arthur said Phase One of the sanctuary was completed in 2021 at a cost of RM15 million, covering basic infrastructure such as an administrative building, elephant paddock, treatment facilities and supporting amenities.
He added that Phase Two will focus on visitor facilities and physical barriers, with an estimated cost of RM41 million.
The minister was responding to a supplementary question from Manndzri Nasib (BN-Tenggara) on the sanctuary’s role in reducing conflict cases and its potential eco-tourism benefits.
Arthur also revealed that 76,361 human-wildlife conflict complaints were recorded nationwide between 2021 and May this year, with estimated losses of RM58.7 million. Johor accounted for 9,063 of those cases, with losses of RM7.5 million.
He said the federal government has implemented the Ecological Fiscal Transfer for Biodiversity Conservation (EFT) programme since 2019 to encourage states to strengthen conservation efforts.
As part of the initiative, about 90,000 hectares of new protected areas have been gazetted nationwide as of 2025.
For Johor, RM600,000 in EFT funding has been allocated for 2025 and 2026 to strengthen human-elephant conflict management, including elephant translocation efforts.
Arthur said eight elephant corridor areas have been identified, with 29 elephants already relocated under the programme, including in Mersing.
He added that elephant conflict cases in Johor have shown a declining trend, dropping by more than 30% from about 900 cases in 2024 to about 600 cases in 2025.
From January to May this year, 147 cases were recorded, indicating further improvement.
The ministry is also expanding the use of the Elephant Electric Fence System (SPEG) to reduce encroachment into human settlements, including upgrades and maintenance at 17 sites nationwide under the 13th Malaysia Plan, with an allocation of RM30 million.
