(MY) ending elephant-human conflict

[Guest guest]

Ending human-elephant conflict - The Star July 5

 

SANDAKAN: The on-going land clearing for development in the lower Kinabatangan

region of

Sabah is putting pressure on the survival of the Asian elephant but the World

Wide Fund for

Nature Malaysia (WWF) is determined to stop that. The group is looking at ways

of reducing the

human-elephant conflict and how the Government can contri-bute towards the

objective.

 

It organised a workshop with residents of lower Kinabatangan, including

government agencies, to

come up with ways to benefit the people and ensure the continuing survival of

the elephant

species known as Elephas Maximus.

 

The workshop entitled Asian Rhinoceros and Elephant Action Strategy (AREAS)

discussed the

problem of residents affected by elephants encroaching on their farms and

villages.

 

The recent event held at Sepilok Jungle Lodge came up with four

recommendations.

 

The residents wanted the formation of an elephant squad, the tackling of the

problem of translocation of elephants, electrical fencing and the

restoration of habitat and corridor for the elephants.

 

Restoration of the corridor involving tree replanting in critical areas began

early this year under WWF's Partners of Wetland Programme.

 

AREAS project manager Raymond J. Alfred said the workshop was to present

participants the

findings of a two-year study on the movement of elephants carried out since May

2000.

 

He said the study covered elephant movement patterns and the status of

human-elephant conflicts

in villages.

 

" The workshop was to enable residents to contribute views on why elephants

intruded into

their areas, " he said.

 

" Results of the workshop will be used to develop an Elephant Control and

Conservation Programme for the lower Kinabatangan area, especially for the

development of an elephant control squad, " he said.

 

Alfred believed that eco-tourism could include elephant viewing as a source of

income for

residents.