KOTA KINABALU (ANN/THE STAR) – A herd of around 20 elephants was spotted feeding on napier grass at a plantation in Tanini, Kinabatangan, renewing optimism that a pilot project to reduce human-elephant conflict in Sabah is proving effective.
Conservationists observed the herd from 6.45am to 5pm on Saturday, marking the second recorded visit since the plantation was established in May last year. The first sighting, in July, involved a smaller group of eight elephants.
Managed by the RESPonsible Elephant Conservation Trust (Respect), the plantation serves as a designated feeding corridor aimed at keeping elephants away from farms and villages. Respect chairman Alexander Yee said the latest visit reinforces the project’s success in providing a sustainable solution to human-wildlife conflict.
“This initiative is not only yielding results but proving to be a viable solution to mitigate human-elephant conflict in Kinabatangan. However, for long-term success, we need continued collaboration and support from all stakeholders.”
The plantation was part of a small-scale pilot to test whether providing napier grass as an alternative food source could help keep elephants away from human settlements.
Within two months, the first group of seven elephants including a baby-was seen feeding at the site.
“That gave us a morale boost because it showed that the elephants had taken notice of the food,” Yee said, reflecting on the early success of the project.
The initiative has since expanded into a 33.35-acre Borneo Elephant Food Corridor along the Riparian Reserve of Kampung Bilit.
The project was launched by Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Seri Christina Liew, to create a larger dedicated feeding zone to keep the animals from straying into plantation and residential areas in search of food.
The project is backed by Saraya Corporation, an environmentally conscious Japanese organisation, which is funding the five-year project with MYR1 million.
The plan involves two years of planting across 9km of 15m-wide grasslands, followed by three years of maintenance. Planting efforts, which had been halted due to last month’s flooding, resumed just a week ago.
For local villagers, the presence of elephants is no longer seen as a nuisance but as part of their identity.
Once considered pests that damaged crops and shelters, elephants are now viewed as an essential part of the ecosystem, thanks to awareness campaigns by conservationists.
Syahron Rahman, a villager from Kampung Batu Putih and site supervisor for the project, admitted that attitudes have changed.
“They would come into the village, destroy crops, and even wreck our structures. But now, we understand their needs and the importance of conserving their habitat. We’ve also learned to leave certain plants, like barau grass, to grow along riverbanks because elephants eat it,” he said.
The project has also provided economic benefits as local villagers have been employed to maintain the Napier grass fields.
Volunteers, including students from SK Bilit Kinabatangan and international groups like the Intrepid Foundation from Australia, have also contributed to planting efforts and keeping the area clean.
However, isolated incidents continue to occur. Just three days ago, a baby elephant was spotted inside a house in Kalabakan, reportedly searching for water and food.
Cases like these highlight the urgent need for expanding the food corridor to provide sustainable alternatives for wild elephants and protect local communities, said Yee.
