60 wild elephants detected along Gerik-Jeli highway

Users of the East-West Highway from Gerik-Jeli may at times be faced with a panic situation when they come across wild elephants roaming, and a large number of them crossing the highway.

According to the Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) director Noor Alif Wira Osman, the wild elephants were from the Royal Belum State Park and Temenggor Forest Reserve here.

Noor Alif said there are more than 60 elephants in the area, which is equivalent to about 70 per cent of the big eared animal's population in Perak.

"Five small groups of elephants were detected roaming along an 80-kilometre stretch of the road. Normally, wild elephants will roam in the early morning, and late at night, depending on the weather," he told Bernama here recently.

According to Noor Alif, although a 200m wildlife crossing (viaduct) had been constructed at KM157 of the route, wild animals including elephants still roamed in the area or sneaked onto the highway.

He also reminded the public, especially motorists to not panic when coming across wild animals on the road and honk at them, but instead give them way to cross the road.