Create natural cross roads for wildlife: Animal activists

PETALING JAYA: A wildlife activist has suggested that the government conduct more research to create "natural crossroads" to avoid more road kill of animals which live in natural habitats.
International wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic South East Asia regional director Dr Chris Shepherd told theSun that there are tunnels and overpasses that can be created specifically to avoid such accidents from occurring on highways or roads.
"Other countries have also similarly built these passage ways to ensure the wildlife's safety," he added.
He cited Singapore as an example where an overpass is built specifically for wildlife to cross.
It is known as the Eco-Link for pangolins to travel between the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
He said that special passages meant for wildlife had been around for a long time.
Another method is to place signboards that show wildlife crossing at certain points and study extensively its watering holes to protect it from further harm, he added.
Malaysian Nature Society secretary Wong Pui May said state governments should look into protecting wildlife habitats and corridors, which is line with the government's Central Forest Spine Masterplan.
On Saturday, a tiger was hit by an MPV while trying to cross the LPT2 expressway.
The Terengganu Wildlife Department today confirmed that the tiger was from the wild and did not escape from a zoo nearby.
Its director, Mohd Hasdi Husin, when contacted by Bernama, said based on an autopsy, the tiger which was pregnant died from severe head injuries.
He said another autopsy would be carried out by the veterinary department\ soon to determine the background and the original habitat of the tiger which weighed about 100kg.
Meanwhile, netizens took to Twitter regarding the tiger's two foetuses after its post-mortem.
"@WWFMy why don't the gov build this wildlife crossing or we will hear again pregnant tiger hit to die on highways?" he tweeted, showing several pictures of natural landscapes meant for wildlife.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said on Saturday that the government intends to build more viaducts to facilitate the movement of animals.
He estimated the cost for the project to be around RM2 billion.