Sabah: In Sabah, humans are often cast as villains in conflicts with Bornean elephants. Yet this perception is far from the truth. Here, both humans and elephants are victims in what appears to be a complex ‘dance’ for survival. This first of a two-part feature reveals both sides of the story. In the heart of Sabah’s forested landscape, where the morning mist clings to the dense foliage, a story unfolds that cuts to the core of humanity’s relationship with nature.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, not far from the natural habitat of the Bornean elephants lies the rustic village of Sukau, cradled by the mighty Kinabatangan River, where Md Ismail Radzi, 45, and fellow villagers dwell and whose lives embody the delicate ‘dance’ between human survival and wildlife conservation. Their story bespeaks a long-standing conflict – between impoverished farmers trying to make an honest living and displaced elephants, whose search for food often leaves a trail of damaged crops behind.

Md Ismail’s modest five-hectare oil palm smallholding, along with patches of corn and fruit trees, represents not just his family’s livelihood but a generational dream for a better living. Yet, these dreams are trampled under the feet of the endangered Bornean elephants, themselves fighting for survival in an increasingly fragmented habitat. The Sabah Wildlife Department recorded 881 cases of human-elephant conflict from 2022 to 2024. Last year saw the highest number with 376 cases, compared to 248 cases in 2023 and 257 cases in 2022.

During the same three-year period, the department documented 97 Bornean elephant deaths. The deaths were attributed to various causes, including getting caught in snares, collisions with vehicles, entrapment in electric fences, falling into ditches, holes or muddy areas, poisoning, infection, disease, poaching, and natural causes. In this story from the Land Below the Wind, there are no villains or heroes – only victims, namely farmers trying to make ends meet and Bornean elephants looking for food.

Md Ismail and other smallholders find themselves in a predicament where the protected status of the Bornean elephants feels like a double-edged sword. ‘We would never harm them, we love them full-heartedly. They are our heritage, our children’s inheritance. But who will protect my family’s livelihood and my children’s future?’ Md Ismail questioned. Their plight is exacerbated by the fact that replanting crops is costly, and no insurance fully compensates for the losses.

The human-elephant conflict echoes across multiple districts on the east coast of Sabah, including Kinabatangan, Tongod, and Lahad Datu, which are ranked among the poorest districts in Malaysia. Farmers face the dilemma of balancing wildlife conservation with their need to survive. Kuamut State Assemblyman Datuk Masiung Banah has advocated for a subsidy system to help small-scale farmers affected by these wildlife encounters.

Retired wildlife ranger Hamzah Maulad, 68, emphasizes that addressing the conflict requires a holistic approach that considers both the elephants’ need for habitat and the farmers’ need for sustainable livelihoods. Meanwhile, elephant conservationist Dr. Nurzhafarina Othman underscores the importance of involving local communities in conservation efforts. Her organization, Seratu Aatai, aims to build support for conservation among communities affected by elephant intrusions.

Nurzhafarina’s work highlights the need for practical support for these communities to coexist safely with the elephants. Elephants, she explained, are not invaders but the original inhabitants of the land, following ancestral paths in search of food. Her studies have revealed the intelligence and adaptability of elephants like Sandi, a bull who became a legend for his ability to navigate through electric fences.

While the struggle between humans and elephants continues, both sides are fighting for survival, and finding a balance remains the real challenge. Without meaningful solutions, the conflict is likely to persist, leaving both farmers and elephants in a relentless struggle.