Fruits left for elephants along Malaysian highway puts motorists at risk says patrol volunteer

Fruits left by wildlife lovers along a highway that is known for elephant encounters in Malaysia may put motorists at risk, a highway patrol volunteer has said.

According to Sungai Petani response team volunteer Mohd Amir Faizal, his team has discovered several piles of fruit on the East-West Highway since May 11, the day when a bereft elephant made news for refusing to leave her dead calf that had been run over by a lorry on the same road.

Videos of the elephant pressing her head against the side of the lorry as if to free her lifeless juvenile from under the vehicle tugged at the heartstrings of many in Malaysia, at a time when Mother’s Day was celebrated around the country.

The area around the 123km highway, which links Gerik in Perak to Jeli in Kelantan, is a natural habitat for wild animals such as elephants, bears, Malayan tigers, leopards and tapirs.

Mr Amir said he was once contacted by a non-governmental organisation that asked about placing fruits along the highway, which he had warned against, reported Malaysia’s state news agency Bernama on May 28.

“I warned them against it, but judging from the photographic evidence we’ve received, it appears the warning was ignored,” he said.

“Volunteers have observed these fruit piles being placed at night in at least three locations – near Titi Gajah, the JRTB Construction Memorial, and close to the Jeli district in Kelantan.”

On Mr Amir’s Facebook page, he explained that once the elephants start taking food from the roadside, they might get used to it and wait by the road for food to come.

He added that the elephants could become angry when they are not fed, and what they could do out of frustration may prompt motorists to demand the authorities to take