LETTERS: During my usual hiking activities at Kledang Hill, Ipoh, there is the usual sense of calmness and security since many people are walking up and down without feeling threatened even though there is a proximity to wildlife to a certain degree.
Lately, however, such calmness and security were threatened when a troop of monkeys gathered around the walking pathway of the hilly road. One could see monkeys along the roads, loitering and jumping along the trees.
They attempted to attack me recently as I was climbing the hill, and I was lucky there was a car nearby and the driver, who was concerned about the situation, asked me to get inside his vehicle for safety.
He told me that he was also chased by monkeys earlier. As I investigated further later on about the presence of the monkeys there, I was told that an individual had provided some food to the monkeys earlier and they gathered there due to this reason.
Then, as I walked further, I realised there were no signboards along the hilly road that inform the public
that giving food to wildlife is prohibited.
This shows there is some degree of negligence on the part of local authorities in failing to warn people from giving food to wildlife that could be the cause of physical and emotional harm to those who are hiking in the area from animals that try to get food because humans had earlier given them some to eat.
Groups of monkeys also tend to gather when food is provided. Therefore, the Association for Community and Dialogue (ACID) urges the authorities to come up with more signboards along the hilly road and elsewhere at Kledang Hill.
This is to ensure there is no contact between wildlife and hikers. Heavy fines should be imposed on those who defy the rules. I feel that there is a need for constant or heightened patrolling by local authorities.
It is hoped that the authorities would take certain measures and act with a sense of urgency to protect hikers and also tourists from other states who visit Kledang Hill during their stay in Ipoh.
RONALD BENJAMIN
Secretary, Association for Community and Dialogue
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times