Japanese company to fund RM1mil Sabah elephant food corridor


KOTA KINABALU: Saraya Corporation of Japan will fund up to RM1mil for the Lower Kinabatangan Elephant Food Corridor over the next five years, state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew says.

She said that the project which involves planting napier grass will cover an area of about 13.5ha on the Kinabatangan riverbanks.

She said that the project aims to create an alternative food source for Sabah’s endangered Bornean Pygmy elephants.

"We hope that it will help guide their movements away from human settlements and agricultural areas," Liew said during the project launch at Kg Bilit, Kinabatangan on Monday (Jan 20).

Liew said the state government has entrusted the Responsible Elephant Conservation Trust (RESPECT) under conservationist Alexander Yee to take the lead in creating an elephant food corridor in Kinabatangan, starting at Kg Bilit.

"The partnership between RESPECT and Saraya Corporation exemplifies the power of collaboration in addressing complex conservation challenges.

"Saraya Corporation’s vision of fostering environmental sustainability aligns perfectly with Sabah’s goal of ensuring that our natural treasures are preserved for future generations.

On the rationale for creating an elephant food corridor, Liew noted that the elephant movement range in Kinabatangan is like a long corridor as they move up and down the river, between Batu Putih and Kampung Abai, with Kampung Bilit in the centre.

"As far as food is concerned, studies have shown that elephants feed on many kinds of plants but their favourites are oil palms and grasses. When we go by boat along the Kinabatangan River, you will notice that almost all the vegetation in Kinabatangan is either forest or oil palm.

"Grasslands now are very, very small. Where the river banks have no trees, we plan to plant and maintain grasses," Liew said, adding that the planting of wild fig trees, which elephants and other wildlife animals love, will also be considered.

Dismissing critics' argument that planting grasses will result in more elephants and more problems managing them, she said the reality is that elephants in Kinabatangan are already breeding very well.

"Just look at all the babies. Every day an elephant is feeding on grass means a day not spent feeding on oil palm," she added.

"The food corridor project agreement symbolises hope, responsibility, and a shared vision for a better tomorrow. Together, we can ensure that the Kinabatangan Corridor of Life continues to be a sanctuary for wildlife and a source of pride for all Sabahans," Liew said.

Earlier, Yee expressed his appreciation to Liew for her vision of creating an elephant food corridor in Kinabatangan and selecting RESPECT to carry out this important task.

"We are grateful to the Minister for securing the much-needed fund from Saraya Corporation," he said.

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