Bees to deter elephant

Dec 23, 2015

By Olivia Miwil

olivia@nst.com.my
Picture by Olivia Miwil

Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (left) taking group pictures with  Pacific Asia Travel Association award winning lodge operators Borneo Rainforest Lodge general manager George Hong (second left) and Sukau Rainforest Lodge general manager and director Baton Binjamin (second right).

KOTA KINABALU: An award winning jungle lodge in Kinabatangan has taken its conservation responsibility to a new level.
 

The lodge operator plans to use bees instead of using electrical fencing to keep elephants at bay.

Baton Binjamin of Sukau Rainforest Lodge said elephants tend to avoid areas where bees are located because of the buzzing sound it produces.

"This natural method has been proven succesful in some African countries. We plan to adopt this method with local residents living near our lodge as partners," he said.

"Everything is still in the preliminary stages but we intend to train the villagers to become bee-keepers because apart from keeping the elephants away from their commune, they also get to sell honey in the long run," Baton added.

Baton said this after meeting with Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and brief about their achievement in winning the Best Independent Accommodation award during recent Pacific Asia Travel Association award ceremony held in Philippines.

Human-elephant conflicts are a large concern in Sabah where there is pressure to maintain large tracts of land for wildlife conservation against demands for more acreage from the oil palm plantation sector.

The Borneo Rainforest Lodge at the Danum Valley Research Centre had also won the Best Responsible Tourism Destination in the same award.

Its general manager George Hong said the lodge had been practicing sustainable operations in its daily operations for more than 10 years.

“The decision to adopt green practices is to meet the demand of customers who mainly from western countries who are concerned on environmenal issues."

“At our lodge, we minimise the usage of chemical which will pollute the environment, encourage recycle and reuse practices among others,” he said, adding the company has also been providing education to local community to take good care of the nature.

Also present was the board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.

“Their winnings in an international award are testimony that Sabah on par to the rest of best accommodations elsewhere.

“On behalf of the government, we hope other operators will also emulate their practices.”