KOTA KINABALU: A herd of elephants seen grazing on Napier grass along the Kinabatangan River has reassured conservationists that the plant is a viable component of a food corridor for the animals.
The 15 animals seen in Kampung Bilit late Monday (Jan 21) dispelled scepticism that the simple measure of planting grass could effectively reduce human-elephant conflict, the conservationists said.
ALSO READ: Japanese company to fund RM1mil Sabah elephant food corridor
The sighting was made just hours after Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew launched the elephant food corridor plan at the same village.
"It is a good omen coming with the launch," Responsible Elephant Conservation Trust (Respect) chairman Alexander Yee said when contacted Wednesday (Jan 22).
"We see it as a positive sign in our efforts to push through the food corridor along lower Kinabatangan as these herds enjoy feeding on the Napier grass.
"We have been seeing successes in plots where we have grown the grass. Elephants came and stayed longer," he added.
Respect was given the task of putting the food corridor in place, with the state government getting the support of Japanese company Saraya Corporation which will provide up to RM1mil in funds over the next five years for the project.
ALSO READ: Safe food haven for pygmy elephants
Yee said time will tell if the project succeeds in the long term, after previous NGOs had taken different approaches such as putting up electrical fencing, planting fruit trees, or fitting satellite-linked collars to reduce conflicts and elephant deaths.
But deaths from poisoning, poaching and at times brutal killings continue to occur despite efforts by stakeholders to reduce conflicts where elephants encroach on plantations and villages to forage.
"No one knows what is the best solution or how best to move forward. We need to try and learn along the way," said veteran conservationist Datuk Dr John Payne, who is also a Respect trustee.
At the corridor launch, Liew said the Napier grass project along the Kinabatangan River was to create an alternative food source for Bornean pygmy elephants to guide their movements away from human settlements and agricultural areas.
ALSO READ: Dropping hints: Sabah's Forest Garden Project aims to curb human-elephant conflicts
Liew said grasslands had dwindled along the river and the idea was to plant grass in areas where there were no trees.
Conservationists are also considering planting wild fig trees, which elephants and other animals enjoy.
Liew dismissed claims that planting grass would result in more elephants and more problems managing them.
She argued instead that each day an elephant spent grazing in the food corridor meant another day that it would not stray onto a plantation and eat the crops.