Wildlife edges closer as habitats shrink

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 25, 2026

Malaysia has received over 80,000 complaints related to human-wildlife conflicts between 2020 and 2025, with long-tailed macaques causing the most incidents amid rising habitat fragmentation. In response to increased dangers, including recent fatal attacks, authorities are enhancing mitigation efforts like electric fencing and wildlife crossings while urging public cooperation to reduce risky encounters.

Malaysia has recorded more than 80,000 complaints related to human-wildlife conflicts over the past six years, highlighting the growing challenges posed by habitat fragmentation and increasing interactions between people and wild animals. Data from the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) shows that between 2020 and 2025, a total of 80,710 complaints were documented nationwide. Reported incidents rose from 11,818 in 2020 to a peak of 15,492 in 2024 before slightly declining to 13,885 last year.

Long-tailed macaques accounted for the majority of reports, making up 48,539 cases during this period. Other frequently involved species included wild boars with 10,473 complaints, elephants with 6,230 cases, Asian palm civets at 4,231, and pig-tailed macaques totaling 2,497.

The increase in human-wildlife encounters has attracted public attention following several recent fatal incidents. In Sabah last month, a 69-year-old man is believed to have died after being trampled by a wild elephant. Earlier in March, rescue teams recovered the dismembered body of a man who was attacked and dragged into a river by a crocodile. In January, cattle breeders at Felda Penggeli Timur in Johor found a partially eaten cow carcass after a tiger was reportedly seen roaming an oil palm plantation and was suspected of the attack.

Perhilitan identified habitat fragmentation as a primary driver behind these conflicts. The department explained that disruptions to forest corridors force wildlife to traverse human settlements in search of food, while also passing through areas of human activity when moving between adjoining habitats. Additionally, poor management of food waste near forest edges attracts opportunistic animals like monkeys and wild boars into residential zones. The department also pointed to the expansion of human settlements near natural habitats as a contributing factor.

To mitigate these conflicts and enhance safety, Perhilitan has implemented several measures. These include installing electric fences specifically designed to keep elephants out of plantations and villages and constructing wildlife crossings such as the viaduct on the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway to preserve habitat connectivity. Capture-and-relocation efforts targeting elephants, primates, and civets are also ongoing.

Public concern about wildlife conservation has intensified due to a rise in elephant roadkill cases across Peninsular Malaysia over the last five years. Perhilitan emphasized the importance of public cooperation by urging people not to approach, feed, or provoke wild animals during encounters. The department warned against making sudden loud noises that could trigger aggressive "fight or flight" responses harmful to both humans and wildlife.

Authorities continue to encourage the public to report wildlife sightings or conflicts promptly through official Perhilitan channels to enable swift and appropriate responses.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.