KOTA KINABALU: An early warning system using Global Positioning System (GPS) collars and electric fencing is being considered to minimise elephant encroachment into villages in Sabah, says Datuk Jafry Ariffin.
The Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister said the initiative would serve as a long-term measure to reduce elephant encroachment, particularly in villages and plantations in the wildlife-rich lower Kinabatangan area.
“The movement of GPS-collared elephants will help us plan the installation of electric fences as a long-term mitigation measure.
“Tracking their movements will also enable us to identify suitable locations for electric fences while ensuring they do not obstruct the migration routes of elephant herds.”
Jafry said yesterday that electric fencing had proven to be an effective deterrent against elephant encroachment when properly implemented.
“The state wildlife department, in collaboration with NGOs, is also testing an early warning system to detect the movement of collared elephant herds before they reach targeted locations.”
He was commenting on the safety concerns of about 3,000 residents in three villages in Batu Puteh following repeated elephant encroachments since July 25 that destroyed their farms.
The elephants, believed to have come from the Pin Supu Forest Reserve, reportedly entered the farms at night and remained there until daylight, with some staying for several days while foraging for food.
Although an electric fence had previously been installed by an NGO to keep the elephants out of the villages, residents said it had stopped functioning about a year ago.
Jafry said that wildlife department personnel, together with villagers, were currently trying to drive the elephants back into the forest.
