Numi’s Crossing: Dusky Langurs get a lifeline

‘Numi’s Crossing’ is the first residential animal crossing. Langgur Project Penang (LPP), a social enterprise headed by Dr. Yap Jo Leen, successfully installed it on 6 January 2024 at Lembah Permai in Tanjung Bungah, Penang.

The animal crossing spans 12 metres across a 7-metre road and stands 6 metres high. Its aim is to promote coexistence and reduce roadkill incidents involving arboreal wildlife.

“It is commendable when civil society joins in to help with conservation efforts. On behalf of the Penang Government, I welcome the Langur Project Penang with open arms. It is a step forward in ensuring people and nature can co-exist peacefully.

If successful, I hope this project can be expanded to other areas in Penang.”, shares YB. Zairil Khir Johari, Penang State EXCO for Infrastructure, Transport & Digital and Tanjong Bunga State Assemblyman.

Lembah Permai residents welcome Numi’s Crossing

Previously, LPP had installed another animal bridge crossing in Penang. Established in 2019, ‘Ah Lai’s Crossing’ in Teluk Bahang, Penang, was Malaysia’s first urban canopy bridge.

Dr. Yap and her team identified the bridge locations through a comprehensive study of the behavioural ecology of urban dusky langurs in the area. Their aim was to develop conservation planning strategies and recommendations.

“Apart from the two animal bridge crossings, we are planning to install two more around the Penang UNESCO Biosphere Reserve’s residential areas.

So far, we have identified a site at Batu Ferringhi while the fourth site is yet to be decided,” said Dr Yap Jo Leen, a wildlife researcher who also heads the LPP, a social enterprise.

Referring to the increase in dusky langur sightings in urban areas of Penang, Dr Yap explained that this was due to deforestation, habitat loss, and the building of human settlements near forested areas.

“Dusky langurs have been frequent visitors to Taman Concord, Lembah Permai over the past four to five years, often utilising rooftops and cable wires for movement and feeding on garden plants.

“This has led to some concerns among residents about the potential negative impacts. Since February 2023, LPP has been studying the dusky langur groups in Lembah Permai to strategise suitable mitigation measures.

“In Lembah Permai, at least four groups of dusky langurs live in the same area as the residents. As the township expands, the monkeys have less space, and sometimes they end up crossing paths with humans,” she said.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the dusky langurs as vulnerable or endangered due to their declining population.

Project aims to reduce wildlife roadkill

Lee Joey, LPP’s project executive explained the organisation’s involvement in engaging with the stakeholders of the ‘Bridge to Coexist’ project at Lembah Permai, dubbed as Numi’s Crossing.

“We were working with the local community and governmental and non-governmental stakeholders in developing science-backed management plans and recommendations for humane and sustainable approaches to mitigate negative human-primate interactions at a national level.

“The bridge crossing at Lembah Permai spans 12 metres across a 7-metre road and is 6 metres high,” she said, adding that the proposal for the urban firehose canopy bridge was submitted to the Malaysian Public Works Department before the permit was approved last October.

Animal Projects & Environmental Education Sdn. Bhd. (APE Malaysia), another social enterprise, collaborated in constructing ‘Numi’s Crossing’. Zairil Khir Johari, the State Assemblyman for Tanjong Bunga, and the Tanjung Bungah Village Community Management Council (MPKK) supported the project.

“‘Numi’s Crossing’ is named after a young, courageous infant dusky langur with a zig-zag spine on its back and its name means hope and harmony in Tamil,” said Joey.

Building bridges between humans & animals

Also present at the ‘Numi’s Crossing’ installation was Dr. Nadine Ruppert, Advisor of LPP and also a Senior Lecturer at the School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia.

“For these endangered primates and other animals that live in human-impacted areas, it is crucial to be able to safely travel between green habitat patches to find enough food and shelter.

Thus, bridges like these, together with protecting existing and planting more trees, should become standard in urban areas,” she said.

The ‘Bridge to Coexist’, with an installation cost ranging between RM35,000 and RM45,000, is funded by CIMB Islamic. The Habitat Foundation serves as the project coordinator and principal partner, along with other LPP supporters and clients.

To date, LPP has recorded more than 6,000 animals crossing the bridge since 2019. These animals include the dusky langur, long-tailed macaque, southern pig-tailed macaque, small mammals like squirrels, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and invertebrates such as insects. Devices powered by solar panels located at ‘Ah Lai’s Crossing’ facilitate this monitoring.

LPP is actively looking for passionate individuals who want to contribute their time, knowledge, and skills to LPP’s long-term conservation projects. LPP team members will closely mentor selected applicants in terms of fieldwork, outreach, and educational approach as part of this volunteer position. 

You can find more information about Langur Project Penang (LPP) on the Langur Project Penang website. www.langurprojectpenang.com 

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The contact information for Langur Project Penang is [email protected]. Volunteering opportunity with LPP: www.langurprojectpenang.com/get-involved/