Elephants feeding on planted Napier grass near the Nature Lodge Kinabatangan.
FOR decades, various groups have been working to conserve Sabah’s endangered wildlife, with steps taken sporadically by NGOs and government bodies.
However, the challenge of minimising human-elephant conflict remains formidable.
One such group, the Responsible Elephant Conservation Trust (RESPECT), has embarked on a simple yet promising initiative: planting elephant grass, a step that has grown into a potential solution to the ongoing conflict.
Some of the elephants foraging the planted napier grass at Kg Bilit in Kinabatangan.
In an encouraging move, the Sabah government has committed to launching the grass planting initiative as a major food corridor to protect the elephants and reduce conflict.
This is the story of RESPECT’s journey.
In March 2018, when a baby Borneo pygmy elephant ventured into a primary school canteen in Sabah’s central Telupid district to forage for food, it became the catalyst for wildlife conservationist Alexander Yee to establish a dedicated organisation aimed at providing food for the elephants.
Local community children arriving in a boat to participate in planting napier grass and also learn about conservation.
The goal was clear: allow the elephants to spend more time in these food sites to reduce wildlife-human conflicts.
Yee’s vision wasn’t just about protecting Sabah’s cherished wildlife – it was also about safeguarding local communities from the elephants’ intrusion into villages, farmlands and plantations bordering the forest reserves.
With this in mind, Yee, alongside veteran conservationist Datuk Dr Junaidi Payne, founded RESPECT in 2019. Together, they sought out simple, effective and affordable solutions to provide a steady food source for the elephants.
Napier grass, also known as “elephant grass”, was chosen for RESPECT’s food corridor project.
Students planting napier grass at Kg Bilit in Sabah’s Lower Kinabatangan.
This protein-rich perennial plant, growing about 2-3m high, is not only a favourite of the elephants but is also easy for the animals to feed on.
However, launching the initiative in Telupid proved challenging. The outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020 led to travel restrictions, which halted the planting efforts.
Despite the setback, RESPECT remained committed to its mission and sought the necessary backing from the state government and relevant agencies like the forestry and wildlife departments.
In 2023, RESPECT’s efforts caught the attention of Datuk Seri Christina Liew, Sabah’s Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Environment.
Liew invited the RESPECT board to discuss her vision for a food corridor to protect the Borneo pygmy elephants in the Lower Kinabatangan area. She swiftly instructed the Sabah Wildlife Department to collaborate with RESPECT on the initiative’s implementation.
Around the same time, the Australia-based Intrepid Foundation reached out to RESPECT to offer financial support for the project.
Students help out in planting grass at the RESPECT plot in Kinabatangan.
Intrepid Foundation had learned about RESPECT’s work in Telupid through its Sabah office. With Telupid’s initiative no longer viable, RESPECT turned its focus to the Lower Kinabatangan region, where Intrepid Foundation eagerly agreed to partner on the project.
The collaboration kicked off with Intrepid Travel organising students from various schools to plant napier grass.
This joint effort became a powerful example of shared responsibility in wildlife conservation.
On April 9, 2024, an influencer group led by Angela Chan helped raise awareness about the initiative, bringing attention to the importance of the food corridor and its role in protecting the Borneo pygmy elephants.
Shortly thereafter, RESPECT hosted Intrepid Travel’s Asia managing director and senior officials at the napier grass planting site in Kampung Bilit, Kinabatangan.
This visit marked a significant milestone in the initiative’s journey. The partnership between RESPECT and Intrepid Travel strengthened the commitment to sustainable conservation solutions, as trustees and officials planted napier grass together.
Today, the napier grass planted in Kinabatangan has grown lush and green, a testament to the success of the partnership. More students have participated in the planting sessions, demonstrating the community’s increasing involvement in conservation efforts.
RESPECT’s mission received further support from the Sandakan High Court when Justice Datuk Celestina Stuel Galid and her team participated in a grass planting session in June 2024. Justice Celestina lauded the initiative, recognising its potential to reduce human-elephant conflict and protect both wildlife and local communities.
With support from Liew’s ministry and financial backing from various donors, the RESPECT team continues to cultivate and monitor napier grass sites.
The all-local team dedicates itself daily to documenting the progress of this crucial food source for the Borneo pygmy elephants.
A momentous event occurred on July 27, 2024, when a herd of elephants arrived at the pilot napier grass plantation site and feasted on the lush greenery.
This marked a hopeful step towards achieving RESPECT’s goal of creating a sustainable food corridor for the elephants in Lower Kinabatangan, with the continued collaboration of state agencies.
RESPECT also hosted 40 students from SK Bilit to plant napier grass in celebration of World Elephant Day, raising awareness about the ecosystem’s needs and the importance of conservation.
Further support arrived in the form of Borneo Conservation Trust Japan (BCTJ), introduced by Liew to help fund the food corridor project.
A BCTJ delegation visited the napier grass planting site in November 2024 to assess the progress firsthand, with BCTJ committing to be the major sponsor of the initiative.
As Liew prepares to launch the Lower Kinabatangan food corridor later this month, the initiative stands as a vital step towards reducing human-elephant conflict and ensuring the protection of the Borneo pygmy elephants for generations to come.
