Endangered species NGO Bora bags inaugural Hornbill award, will share winnings with other finalists

KOTA KINABALU: Non-governmental organisation Bringing Back Our Rare Animals (Bora) has won the inaugural The Hornbill Award competition organised by Climate Governance Malaysia (CGM), beating five other finalists but pledging to share some of its winnings with them.

Bora, which works towards preventing the extinction of endangered species in Malaysia, brought home RM105,000 prize money for its project on creating feeding grounds for wild elephants in Tabin wildlife reserve, during the finals held virtually on Sunday (Sept 26).

CGM's intention for the award is to fund the winning entity on a project that benefits biodiversity while impacting the environment and livelihood of communities in the areas concerned.

However, Bora executive director Datuk Dr John Payne revealed that the NGO planned to share some of its winnings with the other five finalists: 1StopBorneo Wildlife, Kelab Alami Tanjung Kupang, Marine Research Foundation, Reef Check Malaysia and Regional Environmental Awareness of Cameron Highlands (Reach).

"We had planned to give RM10,000 each to the other five finalists because everyone involved agreed that all the proposals were excellent and worthy of support.

"However, one of the finalists just graciously said it’s best Bora keeps the funds. Two have accepted so far.

“We will also give RM10,000 to a new NGO, Responsible Elephant Conservation Trust, which will initiate a similar project (to us) near Telupid,” he told The Star, adding that it would be up to the finalists themselves whether to accept the gesture..

Of the remaining prize money, RM15,000 will go to daily paid labour to continue developing the elephant feeding grounds in Tabin wildlife reserve.

This involves the removal of weeds as well as planting figs and nutritious grass species, Payne added.

RM11,000 will be used for portable solar-powered electric fencing for two sites to keep wildlife away for the first few months while the plants grow to a size suitable for the elephants to feed on.

“RM6,000 will be used for supplies such as organic fertiliser, mineral blocks and small equipment, while the remaining RM13,000 is for Bora's running costs including our office and on-site vehicle at Tabin,” Payne said.

He thanked all Bora supporters who backed this idea of targeted intervention to support endangered wildlife through attention to diet, habitat expansion and reproductive health.