As their natural habitats shrink, wild elephants may venture onto agricultural land in search of food, leaving farmers to contend with damaged crops. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: The idea of establishing food banks for elephants might initially sound rather unconventional, but it could offer a practical response to one of Malaysia's increasingly complex wildlife conservation challenges.
As expanding agricultural activities and fragmented forest habitats bring elephants into closer contact with human settlements, authorities are exploring ways to reduce these encounters without compromising the animals' welfare.
On Oct 17, the Perak government announced that it was studying a proposal to establish dedicated elephant feeding areas and buffer zones near natural habitats, following a series of incursions into agricultural land.
