Masiung trying out the traditional cannon, or 'ladum', a device to scare off wild elephants without hurting them.
KOTA KINABALU: Smallholders in Sabah's central Tongod district use the traditional bamboo cannon known as "ladum" as an effective method of keeping Bornean elephants from straying into their farms.
Kuamut assemblyman Datuk Masiung Banah said the loud sounds from the bamboo cannon frighten off the endangered animals from their crops without causing any harm.
"The ladum is a traditional tool made from discarded cans and shaped like a bamboo cannon that uses spirits," he said after trying out the ladum himself at Kampung Keramuak in Tongod, part of Kinabatangan district, over the Aug 19 and 20 weekend.
"(It is) used by residents if wild elephants enter their settlements or crops," he said.
The community of smallholders who call themselves "Aki Keramuak" is being tutored by the Sabah Wildlife Department on ways to tackle the problem of wild elephant herds threatening their crops.
Masiung said Aki Keramuak acts as a group to drive away elephants that come too close to their oil palm plantations.
"I have brought up the problem of wild elephants at the state assembly, but no action has been taken yet," he added.
As a show of support, Masiung approved an allocation of RM10,000 to build a community centre in the village.
He said wildlife officials will train smallholders in other non-violent ways of shooing off wild animals.
He hoped the Wildlife Department would set up more teams in each village, as many farms are affected by encroachment of wild elephants.
