The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) plans to build 21 new elephant food banks in Johor as part of efforts to reduce human-elephant conflict by keeping the animals away from residential areas and farms.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said the new facilities will complement the three existing elephant food banks in the state.
He said the ministry is also rolling out an Elephant Electric Fence System to protect high-risk areas and nearby communities, while developing the Johor Elephant Sanctuary in phases to improve long-term habitat management.
In addition, the government continues to provide financial assistance to property and crop owners who suffer losses caused by wildlife, including elephants.
Arthur revealed that 76,361 human-wildlife conflict complaints were recorded nationwide between 2021 and May 2026, resulting in estimated losses of RM58.7 million.
He said the conflicts are largely driven by habitat loss, land fragmentation, infrastructure development, agricultural expansion and changing land use, which have disrupted traditional elephant migration routes and increased encounters with humans.
NRES will also step up mitigation efforts through elephant translocation programmes, wildlife corridor development, research and the implementation of the National Elephant Conservation Action Plan (NECAP) 2.0.
Referring to the recent death of a baby elephant after it was struck by a vehicle on Jalan Felda Nitar in Mersing, Johor, Arthur said the tragedy should serve as a reminder of the need to balance development with wildlife conservation and public safety.
He added that the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) responded immediately to the incident, stressing that the ministry treats every wildlife-related case seriously.
