Grass planting makes big impact

Dining together: A family of elephants feasting on newly planted napier grass along the banks of the Kinabatangan River.

KOTA KINABALU: Conservation groups are feeling optimistic about using napier grass to keep elephants out of conflict with humans after some 15 elephants were seen grazing on the plant along the Kinabatangan river.

The herd’s presence in Kampung Bilit late Monday came as a heartwarming sight for conservationists amid scepticism that the simple measure of grass planting could minimise human-wildlife conflict.