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 final in a two-part feature explores solutions to this age-old issue.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the sun beats down as the team, including Bernama writer Fadzli Ramli and cameraman Arjasneh Ahmad, navigates the Kinabatangan River, seeking the endangered Bornean elephant. Declining populations due to habitat loss have heightened conflicts between local farmers and these displaced animals. Guided by Sharon Rahman from the RESPonsible Elephant Conservation Trust (RESPECT), they witness elephants emerging gracefully from the forest.
The Bornean elephant population, the smallest subspecies of the Asian elephant, has dwindled to about 1,000. The solution to the man-elephant conflict in Sabah involves more than just physical barriers. It requires finding ways for humans and elephants to coexist peacefully.
Protected by Sabah’s Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, the Bornean elephants are also supported by the state’s Bornean Elephant Action Plan (2020-2029). This plan focuses on habitat protection and conflict mitigation. Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew emphasizes the importance of long-term strategies for the elephants’ survival.
The action plan includes the Captive Elephant Management Plan and the 3R programme – Rescue, Rehabilitation, Release. These initiatives aim to manage elephants in captivity and return them to the wild when possible. The planting of Napier grass as an alternative food source is another key component, preventing elephants from straying into farmlands.
In the Kinabatangan area, RESPECT, with support from the Intrepid Foundation and local communities, has expanded Napier grass cultivation. Alexander Yee, RESPECT chairman, notes that this initiative helps create harmony between humans and elephants.
In Lahad Datu, the Malambabula elephant pasture offers an ‘all-you-can-eat buffet’ of grasses, providing elephants with a preferable alternative to oil palm plantations. This initiative, led by Borneo Rhino Alliance and funded by The Hornbill Award, aims to foster coexistence.
Sabah’s oil palm industry is also stepping up to reduce conflict through sustainable practices. The Jurisdictional Certification of Sustainable Palm Oil (JCSPO) aims to align conservation efforts with industry goals.
The collaborative efforts of government, NGOs, and local communities are paving the way for peaceful coexistence between humans and elephants in Sabah.