GEORGE TOWN, April 16 (Bernama) -- The Penang state government remains steadfast in its commitment to wildlife conservation by supporting the development of eco-friendly infrastructure, such as canopy bridges, to mitigate the impact of urbanisation on natural habitats.
State Infrastructure, Transport, and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said that to date, three canopy bridges have been built by the Langur Project Penang (LPP) in the state, including the latest installation, ‘The Obscura,’ which was completed last week.
He attributed the success of these projects to strong collaboration between the state government and agencies such as the Public Works Department (JKR) and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).
“Technical approvals and support from all relevant agencies are essential to ensure smooth project execution.
“Moving forward, further expansion will be based on necessity, and the state government is prepared to collaborate in supporting such beneficial initiatives,” he told reporters after officiating the wildlife crossing here today.
Zairil added that the state’s first canopy bridge, Ah Lai’s Crossing in Teluk Bahang, built in 2019, has recorded about 7,500 wildlife crossings, while Numi’s Crossing in Tanjung Bungah, built in 2024, has recorded 800 crossings to date.
He cautioned that unplanned development could severely affect the habitats of various species, including the Dusky Langur (Trachypithecus obscurus), and increase the risk of roadkill as animals attempt to cross busy roads.
“These bridges enable animals to cross safely, reducing the risk of accidents and minimising the impact on their natural habitats,” he said.
He also commended LPP’s achievements, which he said demonstrated the importance of synergy between the government, local communities, researchers, and other stakeholders.
Zairil added that the initiative has received international recognition, with the inaugural bridge featured by global media outlets, including the BBC.
-- BERNAMA
BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies.
Follow us on social media :
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TikTok : @bernamaofficial
