Working with the wild: Some of the wildlife handlers with Alam, who has been tagged with a tracking collar as part of ongoing efforts to protect and preserve Bornean elephants.
KOTA KINABALU: Alam the elephant might just hold the key to a better understanding of the endangered Bornean mammal in Sabah.
The 2.3m-tall female elephant was tagged on July 3 at an undisclosed location in central Sabah as part of ongoing efforts to protect and preserve the population and habitat of Sabah’s wildlife species, honing in on the Bornean elephant.
According to the Sabah Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU), the tracking collar was meant to identify its migration route, gather data for conservation and improve response time if the animal approaches a village or residential area.
“The collar is not just a tool but a hope for a harmonious existence between man and beast,” it said in a Facebook post.
This collaborative effort involves the WRU, Community Elephant Ranger Team Telupid, Sandakan Wildlife Department, Seratu Aatai, Danau Girang Field Centre, Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation, Imagine Borneo and Foundation For Nature.
Collar tagging has been successfully used before on various wildlife and marine species, proving invaluable for researchers and rescuers.
The WRU also shared a recent success story involving a sick female elephant found limping in a Kinabatangan plantation last month.
Upon notification, rangers were dispatched and tracked the elephant to her herd near a logging site. Despite appearing weak, she had no visible injuries.
“Once the animal was sedated and carefully tethered, a thorough examination was conducted,” the WRU said, adding that treatment was administered on-site.
The elephant was later reunited with her herd.
Post-monitoring showed significant improvement, with the elephant gradually regaining strength and walking normally.
“This case highlights how a rapid response in wildlife rescue can be life-changing for animals in distress,” the WRU stated.
The WRU conveyed its gratitude to its sponsors – the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation, Orangutan Appeal UK and Oregon Zoo – saying that their generosity has continued to fuel efforts in protecting and rescuing wildlife.
