Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah government has introduced the Captive Elephant Management Plan (CEMP), marking a step forward in enhancing the standards of elephant care within the state. Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew emphasized the importance of the plan as a key output of the Bornean Elephant Action Plan, highlighting the state’s dedication to best ex-situ practices for elephant management and long-term conservation efforts.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister Liew expressed the state’s ambition for facilities like the Bornean Elephant Sanctuary and Lok Kawi Wildlife Park to gain international recognition as centres of excellence. Sabah is home to the endangered Bornean elephants (Elephas maximus borneensis), listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List due to their diminishing population, estimated at around 1,000 in the wild. Known as the Bornean pygmy elephant, this subspecies is distinct for its smaller stature, with males reaching up to 2.5 metres compared to the mainland Asian elephant’s three metres.

Liew highlighted the role of these captive facilities in offering sanctuary for elephants that cannot be immediately released into the wild, supporting their rehabilitation and eventual reintroduction, particularly at the Bornean Elephant Sanctuary. She stressed the necessity of proper training, resources, and recognition for elephant keepers, noting that investment in infrastructure would enhance elephant welfare and elevate the tourism experience.

The minister further stated that implementing the CEMP would bolster conservation efforts while enhancing Sabah’s tourism appeal, drawing visitors keen to support ethical wildlife conservation. Addressing human-elephant conflict, she called for exploring ways to turn this challenge into a positive impact, especially for local communities, through community-based conservation, ecotourism initiatives, and compensation schemes.

Liew urged local communities to support conservation by reporting information to authorities, referencing a recent incident involving a headless Borneo pygmy elephant carcass found in Tawau. She assured that the case is under investigation and encouraged community cooperation with authorities to help conserve these creatures.