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Elephant Conservation Unit
Secondary forests of the Lower Kinabatangan are also home to approximately 200 of the 1200 to 1500 Asian elephants believed to remain in northeastern Borneo. Recent research indicates that they may be genetically distinct and potentially separated from mainland Asian populations thousands of years. Today this subspecies is only found in Sabah (although some individuals roam in Northern Kalimantan), making the State of Sabah the sole custodian of a unique sub-species of elephant
About 1500 elephants are occurring in four major elephant ranges in the State:
- Lower Kinabatangan (about 50,000 ha: 200 individuals)
- Tabin Wildlife Reserve (120,000 ha: 250-500 individuals)
- Deramakot/Tangkulap/Segama/Malua/Kuamut (1000000 ha: 600-700 individuals)
- Ulu Kalumpang/Tawau Hill Park (80,000 ha: 60-90 individuals)
In recent years, however, their territory is being heavily encroached by expanding agriculture and there have been increasing numbers of human-elephant conflicts as a result. This situation helped spawn Hutan's Kinabatangan Elephant Conservation Unit (ECU), which conducts regular patrols of surrounding farmlands up and down the river in an attempt to prevent damage to crops and mitigate conflicts. The program is labor intensive, but has been very successful to date. One method proven to reduce crop and personal property damage by elephants is to run simple, solar-powered electric wire fences along property perimeters.
ECU's mission is "to contribute to the long-term survival of the Kinabatangan elephant population by restoring more harmonious relationships between the local communities and the elephants"
ECU's objectives include:
1. Mitigate conflicts between people and elephants
2. Provide tools and training to local farmers for elephant-friendly crop protection
3. Understand elephant raiding strategies
4. Study the ecology of the Bornean elephant
5. Raise awareness among the local community on the importance of elephant conservation
Hutan's Elephant Conservation Unit has currently undertaken a number of other research initiatives including creating a photographic database of family units, tracking family associations among the Kinabatangan elephants, studying the composition of the elephant food diet, and dating elephant presence signs. The ECU has also partnered with the Danau Girang Research Centre on a new research effort: Satellite tracking and social behaviour of the Bornean elephant in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary.
To view a brief video of the Bornean Elephant in the Kinabatangan region;
For more information on the music in the video, you may go to the website of the artist Amir Yussof at www.aquarius.com.my
If you would like to help support the Houston Zoo's elephant conservation programs in Borneo, please click the donate button below or contact conservation@houstonzoo.org.
