The four-lane stretch of the Aring-Kenyir Road (Federal Route 185) is located in the north-eastern state of Terengganu in Peninsular Malaysia. Three elevated viaducts were specifically built as animal crossing structures in 2008, in addition to seven bridges spanning rivers and ravines that also allow for animal movement in the landscape. For approximately 60 km, the road traverses four forest reserves: Tembat, Petuang, Hulu Telemong and Hulu Nerus. According to varying sources, it is estimated that there are between 120 and 140 individual Asian elephants in the state and this complex of contiguous forest often serves as a translocation site for elephants from other areas with human-elephant conflict.

A designated ecological corridor (T-PL1, previously known as CFS I: PL7) measuring approximately 150 square km surrounds the three viaducts and helps to link the reserves to Taman Negara National Park, which covers over 4,300 km2 and supports approximately 600 elephants. To increase effectiveness, 20 km of electric fence are used to funnel wildlife to the underpasses, artificial saltlicks have been installed near or under them, and standard road signs have been installed to warn motorists of the potential for elephants crossing the road. The Department of Wildlife and National Parks recorded roadkill of elephants, melanistic leopard (Panthera pardus) and other wildlife. A research project assessing the effectiveness of the crossing structures found elephants and a few other herbivores utilize the underpasses, while other species, including carnivores, may prefer to cross directly on the road (Clements, 2010).

The three viaducts in the ecological corridor around the Aring-Kenyir Road in Terengganu, Malaysia. © S. Elagupillay