A Mother’s Grief, A Nation’s Wake-Up Call
Female elephants have a gestation period of approximately 22 months and usually give birth to just one calf at a time. The emotional bond between mother and calf is profound, and the loss of a calf is nothing short of devastating. This is why the recent incident on Mother’s Day along the Gerik-Jeli highway has touched so many – a mother elephant seen grieving by her fatally injured calf is a poignant and painful image that speaks volumes about the cost of our inaction.
This heartbreaking event is not isolated. It underscores the urgent need for improved wildlife protection measures along the Gerik-Jeli highway, a known hotspot for wildlife crossings. Conservationists and concerned members of the public have long been calling for stricter enforcement of speed limits, improved lighting, and most critically, the construction of wildlife crossings to reduce fatal accidents involving endangered species. There is already one dedicated wildlife viaduct along this highway, but more such infrastructure is urgently needed here to support safe passage for wild animals.
While existing signboards may serve as a reminder to slow down, they have not proven sufficient. Speeding vehicles continue to claim the lives of elephants, tigers, and other wildlife. It is time to consider more tangible deterrents. Installing speedbumps at key wildlife crossing points may prove to be far more effective in compelling drivers to reduce speed. Doing so not only protects wildlife; it also enhances the safety of motorists.
We must also commend the ongoing efforts of the Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks, particularly in developing the Perak Elephant Sanctuary, which is expected to be completed by 2029. This sanctuary will provide a safer habitat for elephants and contribute to reducing human-wildlife conflict. However, such long-term solutions must be paired with immediate actions on the ground.
WWF-Malaysia has repeatedly highlighted the urgent need for wildlife crossings and increased driver awareness along the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway. This highway cuts through critical habitats such as the Royal Belum State Park and Temengor Forest Reserve, making it a dangerous intersection between human development and wild territory. A particularly grim reminder came in 2024, when a Malayan tiger was fatally struck on this very road, and its body parts were later removed where it lay.
Since 2023, six tigers have died due to roadkill incidents in Malaysia including two within a two-month period along this very highway. These statistics are alarming, and they must compel us to act with urgency. While we acknowledge and appreciate government initiatives such as the allocation of RM200 million for conservation efforts and studies into wildlife crossings and warning systems, time is not on our side. Bold and decisive action must follow swiftly.
We need more than just warnings. We need wildlife viaducts and underpasses. We need speedbumps and traffic-calming infrastructure. We need public awareness campaigns that speak to the heart as well as the mind. We need drivers to understand that this highway is not theirs alone; it is shared with elephants, tigers, tapirs, and countless other species who have walked these forests long before asphalt was laid.
Wildlife often has no choice but to cross roads, as their habitats have been fragmented by development. Elephants, for instance, have strong memories and travel long distances in search of food and water. On the Gerik-Jeli Highway, as with many others, motorists are driving through wildlife territory and must stay alert for animals crossing.
As our highways carve through ancient forests, we must learn how to coexist with the wildlife that still calls these places home. We urge all travellers along the Gerik-Jeli highway to please remain vigilant. Your carefulness behind the wheel can prevent tragedies that no mother – human or elephant – should ever have to endure.
An elephant remembers. An elephant grieves. Let us not forget either.
Please, drive with this in mind.