Numi’s Crossing: Building Bridges Towards Human-Wildlife Coexistence

The Langur Project Penang (LPP), is a social enterprise in Penang that works for the conservation of primates, specifically to cultivate coexistence among humans and urban monkeys in Peninsular Malaysia. The team has been studying dusky langurs in urban Penang for several years and found that there is a need to help langurs and other treetop animals cross roads more safely. Artificial crossing structures like rope canopy bridges have been used in several countries, to reconnect separated forest patches or habitat fragments and to allow safe passage for small animals. In 2019, LPP made history by successfully setting up Malaysia’s first urban canopy bridge in Teluk Bahang, Penang. The bridge has since been used by various wildlife to cross the busy road to this day, with zero primate roadkill at the site. Recently, the group successfully launched the first of three residential road canopy bridges in Penang UNESCO Biosphere Reserve’s residential areas and we find out more from Dr. Yap Jo Leen (Head of Langur Project Penang (LPP), Wildlife Researcher and Environmental Educator), Lee Joey (Project Executive, Langur Project Penang) and Wong Hui Yi (Environmental Communicator, Langur Project Penang).

Image credit: The Langur Project Penang (LPP)