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The fragmentation of the forest habitats is one of the key challenges
to ensure the survival of the Bornean elephants in Sabah. The ‘Melapi
elephant corridor’ in Sukau has proven that even a strip of land 50
meters wide makes a difference to facilitate the migration of the
Bornean elephant herds in Lower Kinabatangan.
The conservation project, led by Raymond Alfred, the head of
Conservation and Research, Borneo Conservation Trust (BCT), explained
that the corridor was established in August 2011 which is a
collaboration between the Sabah Wildlife Department and Borneo
Conservation Trust, together with their partners Syarikat Yu Kwang
Development Sdn. Bhd. and Proboscis Lodge Bukit Melapi.
The Borneo Conservation Trust (BCT) is a non-profit NGO
established in 2006 and was incorporated under the Trustee’s Ordinance
1951, Cap. 148 (Sabah).
BCT relies wholly on funds and grants that is provided by
individuals and corporations, to enable it to implement conservation and
research works.
The establishment of the Borneo Conservation Trust (BCT) was
first mooted as an unprecedented Malaysia-Japanese effort to re-acquire
the important alienated lands in the wetlands and riverine forests in
order to allow the movements of Bornean elephants and orang utans, the
flagship species of Sabah.
“We are very happy to know that the elephants are now able to
pass through the land using this corridor to migrate from one key
habitat to another, when previously it was a very narrow bottleneck,”
said Alfred.
“This collaborative effort is an example where the private sector
can work with us and the NGOs. We welcome the opportunity to work
hand-in-hand with companies and organisations keen to play an active
role in supporting and contributing to Sabah’s wildlife conservation
initiatives,” said Dr Laurentius N. Ambu, the director of the Sabah
Wildlife Department.
“With the re-establishment of this corridor, the potential human
and elephant conflict in the villages and plantations is also reduced,”
concluded Ambu.
This week, students from the Nihon University Japan, planted more
than 100 trees within this corridor to facilitate the movement of the
orang utans within the fragmented habitat in the future.
The activities of the students were coordinated by Borneo Conservation Trust Japan (BCT-Japan).
With continuous diligent effort in the next three years, a forest canopy could be eventually established in the area.
Source: http://kepkas.sabah.gov.my/2012/03/20/elephants-using-survival-corridor/
Photo Source: http://true-wildlife.blogspot.com/2011/01/borneo-elephant.html
