Johor intends to establish 21 food banks to help curb conflicts between wild elephants and villagers.
“Perhilitan (Department of Wildlife Protection and National Parks) in collaboration with a university made a study – (so) the best way is to set up a food bank for the elephants,” Johor Health and Environment Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon told reporters during his visit at the Johor Elephant Sanctuary.
He added that four sites were identified, including one in the Johor Elephant Sanctuary at Panti Forest Reserve.
“We don’t want to translocate or injure the elephants, therefore, the best way is to use the natural way we supply enough food to this wildlife,” he further explained.
The food banks will supply the elephants with adequate natural food sources, which will prevent the mammals from wandering out in search of food.
“The state government will work with farm owners to build a ‘food bank’ involving the planting of napier grass, banana trees and sugarcane in an area of one hectare,” Ling said.
