Make pygmy elephants umbrella species
I was rather intrigued when the Parti Warisan president talked about wildlife conservation and his concern for them during the run-up to the 14th General Election. To keep the issue burning, I had posted in my Facebook account of my involvement in wildlife conservation, and as a politician, I had said that I am one of the most qualified in talking about this field. Very soon I had someone commenting in my FB telling me not to be arrogant.
I have raised many issues of wildlife in the Sabah Assembly. I talked about the death of so many pygmy elephants and had wanted answers from the government. Were they poisoned or killed by powerful guns?
Then we have elephants dying in a pool of mud. How could this happen? Soon we have several reports of elephants killed in the oil palm plantations. The killing of this rare pygmy elephants continues, the latest being just less than a month ago.
I spoke of their security and I praised the government for elevating their status to fully protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
Despite this, the killing continues. Even a collared research elephant, the one with a pair of unique tusks, was not spared. Its carcass was found with its long sabre-looking tusks gone. I saw a notice at one of the shops in Kinabatangan offering a RM10,000 reward for information on the killing of this special elephant.
For the record, the huge amount of reward for information on the death of more than a dozen elephants has not been claimed yet. I did provide some information to the authority, but it ended just there. (I had jokingly said I needed the money for my election campaign)
The pygmy elephants have been confirmed scientifically that they are endemic to Borneo, particularly to Sabah, and in which I was involved. I have recommended in the Sabah Assembly that this species and all other endemic animals and plants to Sabah and Borneo should be listed as State heritage. After all, one of our strengths is tourism, eco-tourism.
The orang-utan, proboscis monkeys, hornbills, sun bears, turtles and pygmy elephants are some animal species that are iconic attractions for tourists and we know, tourism is a multibillion ringgit industry.
Our wildlife is also a source and reference for scientific researches. It is undeniable that many foreign and local students have obtained their higher degrees on wildlife and then become experts in the field. Many books have been written about our wildlife and numerous documentary films have also been produced.
I have joined in several discussions on how to move forward as far as wildlife conservation is concerned. For once, I have tried to convince the government that differences in political ideology should not be used to keep out ‘experts’ in this field.
I remember a message from Datuk Masidi Manjun that he would appoint me as a consultant on wildlife conservation in his ministry if I am no more involved in politics. Well, I have continued to say my piece on wildlife conservation through the media when it is necessary.
Here, I will be talking about the future of the pygmy elephants. As the largest mammal that requires a huge land area of an estimated 3,000 hectares per elephant, I have recommended that this species be made the umbrella species. What it means is that all other species under this umbrella will also be taken care of. So, by protecting the pygmy elephants, we are also protecting the other species. Research on the elephants and other species can be conducted simultaneously which will provide data and information on how the overall wildlife conservation can be planned and implemented.
At the same time, I would like to see our zoo undertake breeding with the intention to release their offspring into the wilds. I am also supportive of farming the game animals.
The pygmy elephants are struggling to survive. They roam around following their usual feeding path only to find that the feeding spots are no longer there.
So if there is a new oil palm plantation without any electric fencing, they will go in and finish off all the young palms. Thus, the human-elephant conflict emerges.
It is so easy to destroy the elephants, and if we do not find a solution soon, more elephants will be killed. I hope the fight to seek justice for ‘Little Joe’ continues. He was the little baby caught on camera trying to arouse his dead mother and the lone survivor of the mass ‘poisoning’ at Kalabakan.
We have to accept that the pygmy elephants are our natural heritage. We have to also realise that development in the agriculture sector is fast and rapid. We must strike a balance, otherwise we will soon de-forest and all the wild animals will have no more safe haven to survive and propagate. We have to decide how much forest must be kept for wildlife.
A 49% forest cover requirement may not be conducive to wildlife. So we need to keep intact the wildlife habitat, undertake carrying capacity study and work on how to sustain their foods. I have recommended that more grass, especially para grass (Bracharia mutica), be planted all along the river networks where there is high concentration of pygmy elephants.
This grass grows well in water-logged areas, withstands and recovers easily after heavy grazing. I have also recommended that during the fruiting season, seeds are collected from fruits stalls and disperse over the forest by helicopters instead of just throwing them away.