KOTA KINABALU: Former chief minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal has called for stronger protection of elephant habitats following Sabah’s third beheading case this year, saying such killings were rare during his administration.
He warned that habitat loss and unchecked development have left elephants vulnerable, forcing them out of the forest and into conflict with humans.
“These elephants are God’s creatures. They are not aggressive — they are just looking for food,” he said. “We cannot prioritise palm oil and timber while forgetting that their homes and food sources are being wiped out,” he said when met by reporters in Kolombong near here on Sunday (April 13).
The Parti Warisan president said that during his tenure as CM, large tracts of land between 10,000 and 30,000 hectares were secured, including land donated by Japanese firms, to protect elephant corridors from Kalabakan to Silam.
“The aim was to ensure these animals had space to roam. Now, we hear of beheadings again and again. That’s not a coincidence — that’s a warning,” he said.
Sabah Wildlife Department has confirmed that six elephants have been found decapitated in Sabah since July 2024 — three of them this year, in January and twice in April, all along Kalabakan Road.
Its director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar confirmed that investigations are ongoing, including into possible syndicates linked to ivory poaching. A RM10,000 reward has been offered by the federal ministry for information leading to arrests.
Shafie also proposed the creation of a dedicated conservation zone, similar to Africa’s Serengeti, not only for tourism but as a permanent refuge for endangered species.
“If it’s hot, we humans find fans and umbrellas. Elephants also need shelter and food,” he said. “Let’s not only protect them to attract tourists — we need to protect them because they deserve to live,” he added.
