Innocent Road Victims

Are Malaysian road-users reckless? Are we not a caring society?
by Dr. Hasnul Ismail, MNAWF Member

After a joyous Raya celebration in Alor Gajah, Malacca with my mother's family, we drove back to my hometown in the South. Though the journey along the North-South highway was smooth, I was appalled by what I saw: a dead pangolin just by the Pagoh exit, a dead civet a few miles further south, then another civet cat, and finally a bird (probably a crow). I was disturbed and saddened by this surge of dead animals and wished I could have stopped to place these dead carcasses in the car boot. They would have made good specimens for scientific records, but I knew that I would have created a chaotic uproar in the car, so I decided against it. I would presume that readers would not find such grotesque sights something out of the ordinary. In fact, road kills are not restricted to wildlife only; they also include dogs/puppies, cats/kittens, birds, chickens, toads and frogs. BUT SUCH THINGS CAN AND SHOULD BE PREVENTED.

The February 1997 issue of the Malaysian Nature Society's MALAYAN Naturalist had an article on these road victims and indicated that they would be good specimens for research and an important source of scientific data (which includes morphometric records, data on the physical and physiological condition of the animals and so forth). This would be better than capturing of wildlife which causes such stress to the captured animal that it may eventually die from capture myopathy or from injuries sustained during capture. Therefore, it would be less wasteful to utilize such road kills, however, it certainly does not imply that we should condone the unruly and reckless driving that led to the death of these unfortunate animals.

What bothers me most is why people have to speed during the night when accidents are more likely to occur? Is it a necessity since we are not nocturnal by nature? Some of us may be aware that nocturnal animals like most of the unfortunate ones described above, come out at night in search of food, new territory and mates. These animals have a structure known as tapetum lucidum in both of their eyes which acts as a reflectant that enables them to utilize light maximally so that they can see better in the dark. This is an additional device nature has given them to aid in their nocturnal life apart from the presence of numerous rods found in their retina. When light (in this case from the head-lights of vehicles) shines onto these animals, a fluorescent-like appearance of the eyes can be seen. This unfortunately stuns the animal initially and immobilizes it for sometime, making it an easy target for a speeding vehicle. But if a car were traveling at controllable speed, the chances of knocking down the animal would be minimal because the driver would be able to see the shining dots and avoid them. Speeding and knocking down animals in a hit-and-run situation, without caring whether it were still alive or had a family hidden somewhere in the bush, is typical of man's selfish and inconsiderate nature.

It would be very different if the hit-and-run event had involved a human person! It would make headlines the very next day and the driver or rider would be frowned upon by society who would feel sorry for the victim and his or her family. But this is simply not so if the victim were a MERE animal. It is sad that there is a major difference in attitudes. This is with the exception of some animal lovers who would stop to help an injured animal or at least move a dead animal to the side of the road.

Steps and precautions should be taken by the authorities and also by road-users to reduce road-kills, but is still boils down to self-discipline. Perhaps we could increase the number of road-humps or propose that more striking signs be put-up, but educating the general public would be the best course of action. We humans have the ability to care and we should realize that animals need to live too. Heavy fines should be implemented if road rules and regulations are not followed or adhered to. Another method of protecting the wildlife is by fencing roads to deter animals from crossing them. The fences could be constructed in such a way that they funnel the animals toward an underpass or to new safe zones where the animals can cross the roads and reach their destinations safely, enabling them to search for food or set up new territories. This has been practiced in some countries. However, the worry that poachers might use these areas as a source of their illegal prey is also to be considered!

Once again I have to stress that it all depends on US - the selfish Homo Sapiens. We should always remind ourselves to be more wary and careful whenever driving or riding. It is indeed a celebration when a person successfully gets his or her license to drive or ride, but more importantly, to be a successful driver or rider is to be responsible at all times. Responsibility is important in all aspects of life and we should always respect the lives of others, including animals, and strive to help preserve our diminishing wildlife.