(MY) elephant problem

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Best to consolidate existing habitats

S. M. MOHD IDRIS President, Sahabat Alam Malaysia

 

March 17: News Straits Times

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NEWS of human-elephant conflicts surface occasionally, and when this

happens as in the case at the Perlop land scheme — when wild elephants

destroyed 80 hectares of oil palm seedlings early this year — it is a

nightmare for the Department of Wildlife and National Parks and an

unwelcome challenge for villagers.

 

 

When elephants come into conflict with man, it is a battle the gentle

animals are destined to lose.

 

Land development agencies seem to have difficulties in finding

permanent solutions to this complex problem.

 

Conservationists have repeatedly pointed out that the elephants have

been compelled to come near human settlements because of shrinking

habitats.

 

The loss of habitat in several parts of the country, along with

population growth, human activities and logging, have eaten into the

elephants' refuge. More and more often, elephants find migration

routes blocked by villages, plantations, highways and roads .

 

It is estimated that elephants in Malaysia number between 1,200 and 1,500.

 

Given the forest cover of peninsular Malaysia, is there enough space

for the elephants?

 

The measures that can be taken for long-term management are to

consolidate existing good habitats and manage the elephants falling

outside the demarcated habitats. One approach is to demarcate good

habitats as " elephant reserves " , while another is to secure elephant

corridors between these good habitats.

 

However this calls for a better understanding of the dynamics of

elephant population. It is also crucial for us to comprehend clearly

the root causes of human-elephant conflict in order to develop

long-term solutions.

 

This is a highly complex matter and should involve elephant experts,

scientists, wildlife and forest authorities, land development

agencies, as well as other authorities and stakeholders.

 

Extending legal protection to the corridors could be another measure

that could help in giving the elephants safe passage. Development

policies near or close to elephant habitats must be thoroughly

discussed.