(MY) road kills

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Keep animal safety in mind - New Straits Times

14 Dec 2006

DR DIONYSIUS SHARMA for WWF-Malaysia

 

INCIDENTS like " Another tapir killed on highway " (NST, Dec 6) are more

common in Malaysia than some might think and we would like to see it

recognised as a serious issue, in terms of road safety and

biodiversity conservation.

 

As more roads are built, large tracts of forest become fragmented,

which more often than not result in road accidents involving wild

animals.

 

A responsible government would consider the environmental and public

costs of an increasingly developed infrastructure.

 

There are several actions, both immediate and long-term, that can and

should be applied. The basic concept, however, should be to allow

wildlife to move freely and safely from one block of forest to another

without fatal contact with vehicles.

 

First, identify stretches of existing and planned roads where animals

are likely to cross, then prepare motorists for likely encounters with

wildlife on those roads.

 

A simple way is to erect warning signs and reduce speed limits,

particularly on high-risk points such as tight bends.

 

On a larger scale, wildlife crossing structures should be installed or

constructed. In many cases, this is simply a case of converting

existing structures, such as drainage tunnels into wildlife-friendly

passages.

 

It is important that wildlife crossings should adhere to the natural

structure of forest habitats and not stand as obtrusive structures

that frighten or hinder animals from using them.

 

Traffic accidents caused by wildlife need to be addressed at the

planning stages of road construction, especially those that cut

through a forest.

 

Construction companies must consider wildlife movement as a design

factor. Taking this into account now will reduce costs in the future.

 

In Malaysia, the need for such thinking has not really been

recognised, though some highways are reported to be wildlife-friendly.

 

Roads that cut through wildlife habitat, such as the Shah Alam-Puncak

Alam Highway, need to be identified and proper measures such as those

suggested should be put in place.

 

This work should, ideally, be a collaborative effort involving the

Department of Wildlife and National Parks, the Public Works

Department, the Malaysian Highway Authority, non-governmental

organisations and relevant agencies.