The fragmentation of habitats, especially by the construction of highways, is of much concern to conservationists, as the wild animals will be segregated from the larger population. Continued isolation, apart from limiting their food resources (due to smaller ranging area), will also limit the available breeding mates available, giving rise to inbreeding, as the gene pool decreases.

Inbreeding produces inferior generations that are not competitive, as weaker traits are passed down and expressed by the off-springs. Consequently, conservation biologists have termed these remaining, isolated animals the 'living dead', as without external genetic replenishment, their population will slowly die off. =

To circumvent the problem, MNS is of the view that any highway construction that dissects a natural habitat should make provisions for a corridor linking the newly segmented forests, to facilitate easier migration for animals, and for better gene flow. (Corridors could be in the form of tunnels underneath the highway, and connecting the two forests, or, for gibbons, the tree canopies could be left unbroken in certain points of the highway).

Though not currently realisable because of our political, social, and economic realities, we must never lose sight of the need to provide a system of narrow corridors linking the major, remaining wildlife sanctuaries and reserves with the Main Range and the National Parks, and any unused private land between the said reserves could be bought, acquired or leased for the stated purpose.

Dato' Dr. Salleh Mohd. Nor
President
The Sun 4/11/98