Photo courtesy of WWF-Malaysia
(Press release by WWF-Malaysia)KOTA KINABALU: A multi-stakeholders collaboration has put a focus on planting and managing grasslands as alternative food sources to keep elephants away from plantations and villages.
The initiative was led by the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD), in collaboration with the Sabah Wildlife Department, BORA and WWF-Malaysia, marked an important step forward in addressing human-elephant conflict within the Tabin Landscape.
Sabah Wildlife director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar said there is an estimated 200 to 250 Bornean elephants call the Tabin Wildlife Reserve their home.
“This endemic subspecies faces ongoing threats, including habitat fragmentation, human-elephant conflict, and poaching. In this landscape, the risks associated with human-elephant conflict, including potential retaliatory actions, remain a serious concern," he said in a statement.
The urgency of the issue was underscored by a recent incident in Bagahak 2 Plantation, where an elderly man tragically lost his life following an encounter with a wild elephant.
The incident highlights the importance of coordinated, landscape-level action and shared responsibility among all stakeholders to manage conflict and promote safe coexistence.
“Addressing human-elephant conflict requires collaboration across agencies, plantation owners, and communities.
“We must work together to implement solutions that protect and benefit both people and wildlife. Today’s grass planting initiative represents one of the key action points for the Tabin Managed Elephant Range, as outlined in the Bornean Elephant Action Plan for Sabah 2020–2029.”
Sabah Forestry Department reaffirmed its commitment under the Sabah Forest Policy 2018 to ensure that all forest types, ecosystems, and their biodiversity are adequately represented and protected during the event.
This includes safeguarding endangered species such as the Bornean elephant and enriching the integrity and connectivity of their habitats.
Encouragingly, efforts within the Tabin Landscape are already demonstrating the value of coordinated action.
The Human-Elephant Working Group Committee, established in 2021 and chaired by the Lahad Datu District Office, with Sabah Wildlife Department and WWF-Malaysia as secretariat, brings together plantation stakeholders to coordinate initiatives such as joint electric fencing among neighbouring estates.
These efforts have contributed to reducing conflict at the landscape level, benefiting surrounding communities.
Central to this effort is BORA’s pilot initiative to establish managed grasslands as alternative food sources for elephants within the Tabin Wildlife Reserve.
Located near the Malambabula River, adjacent to the KLK plantation, and along the main access road into the Reserve, these sites aim to reduce the frequency of elephants entering plantations and community lands to forage.
“Addressing human-elephant conflict requires us to rethink how landscapes are managed.
“Elephants enter oil palm plantations and villages for one simple reason: food. A long-term solution must ensure that food sources are adequate, reliable, accessible, and safe.
"Managed grasslands directly address this need by offering a strong alternative to oil palms. Grasses have no natural plant toxins and can regenerate after elephants feed on them," said Dr Zainal Zahari Zainuddin, BORA Programme Director.
“Human-elephant conflict remains one of the most pressing conservation challenges in Sabah,” said Dr Cheryl Cheah, elephant specialist and Protect Pillar Lead of WWF-Malaysia's Sabah Landscapes Programme. “While there is no single solution, efforts to improve habitat quality and ensure the availability of natural food sources within designated areas form part of a broader landscape approach that supports coexistence.”
SFD also acknowledged the support from plantation companies that have participated in these efforts.
“We gratefully thank plantation partners, including those present today (Ladang Permai, MPOB, KLK, Sawit Kinabalu, FGV and FELDA) for supporting this initiative,” said Mr Mohd Arapa bin Lamuda, Regional Forestry Officer, Tawau. Speaking on behalf of Datuk Zulkifli Suara, Chief Conservator of Forests, he added, “However, to achieve long-term impact, these efforts need to be scaled across the Tabin Landscape, with continued participation from plantations neighbouring the Reserve.”
In line with the global theme for International Day for Biological Diversity 2026, “Acting locally for global impact,” stakeholders were encouraged to strengthen collaboration and expand support for solutions that address chronic challenges and contribute to long-term conservation outcomes.
All partners reaffirmed their commitment to continuing to work together to test, refine, and scale solutions that support sustainable coexistence between people and elephants in Sabah, including scaling up managed grasslands as alternative feeding areas across the landscape.
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