Beyond the Band-Aid: Tackling the Root Causes of Human-Elephant Conflict in Central Sabah
Press release from Danau Girang Field Centre and Seratu Aatai
1 December 2024, Kota Kinabalu: At the Defining Tawai: Ecological Integrity Meets Social Values seminar, Dr. Nurzhafarina Othman, founder of Seratu Aatai and colleagues from Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) and Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), delivered a compelling presentation titled Beyond the Band-Aid: Tackling the Root Causes of Human-Elephant Conflict in Central Sabah Landscape. Organized by the Sabah Forestry Department, the seminar brought together around 200 participants, including experts, university lecturers, non-governmental organizations, government officials, and students, to explore solutions for pressing environmental challenges in Sabah.
Dr. Nurzhafarina shared alarming insights about the increasing cases of human-elephant conflict (HEC) in the region. “We are already receiving complaints from communities in areas where elephants have not been seen since the 1980s,” she revealed. “These conflicts are arising even before the construction of the Pan-Borneo Highway has begun. What will happen if we further disrupt these intact habitats? The situation will undoubtedly worsen, with devastating consequences for both people and wildlife.”
Map showing the movements of five elephants (3 males and 2 females) in Telupid region. It clearly shows hotspots in the northern part of Tawai Forest Reserve where the alignment of the Pan-Borneo Highway (yellow line) is anticipated.
She emphasized that the root causes of HEC—habitat loss and fragmentation—must be addressed to prevent long-term repercussions. “We cannot keep relying on temporary solutions like electric fences or compensation schemes,” said Dr. Nurzhafarina. “These measures are costly, unsustainable, and fail to address the underlying problems. Prevention is always cheaper and more effective than trying to fix the damage later.”
“Scientific data following years of satellite tracking of several male and female elephants in Telupid region, including Tawai Forest Reserve, have been produced by DGFC, Seratu Aatai and SWD,” said Professor Benoit Goossens, Director of DGFC and a co-author on the presentation. “It clearly shows that the Pan Borneo Highway alignment would cross elephant habitat and any linear infrastructure would have a negative impact on the elephant population in the region as well as on many other totally protected species such as the orangutan, the sun bear, the Sunda clouded leopard and the rediscovered Bornean peacock-pheasant,” added Goossens.
Dr. Nurzhafarina and Prof. Goossens urge decision-makers to consider alternative approaches, such as re-routing the highway as proposed by the 3H Coalition or constructing elevated roads, like the Sungai Purun viaduct in Peninsular Malaysia, built by JKR. These solutions can minimize habitat disruption while allowing development to proceed.
The urgency of the issue was underscored by a formal letter sent in October by the Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG) to the Chief Minister of Sabah. The letter, which has also reached Datuk Shahelmy, Minister of Public Works Sabah, and the Sabah Forestry Department, expressed grave concerns about the highway’s potential impact on elephant populations.
Goossens also warned that “further habitat destruction would not only exacerbate HEC but also diminish the ecosystem services provided by intact forests”. “No technology can replicate the benefits that nature provides for free,” he said. “By preserving these ecosystems, we are not just protecting elephants, we are safeguarding the well-being and livelihoods of local communities.”
“Communities are already frustrated, and the costs of inaction will only escalate,” concluded Dr. Nurzhafarina. “This is our opportunity to take proactive measures and make decisions that benefit both people and wildlife for generations to come.”
