CONCERNS have been raised over a plan to let a private company manage the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary (BES) in Kinabatangan.
Wildlife NGO Seratu Aatai questioned the move, warning it could lead to profit-driven decisions at the expense of conservation.
“Short-term fixes risk ignoring elephants’ real needs, like preserving habitats and improving welfare,” said director Dr. Nurzhafarina Othman in Kota Kinabalu, today.
She was responding to Sabah Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew's recent announcement that the state will ink an MoU with a private entity to enhance elephant conservation in the state.
The MoU will include upgrades and improvements involving the elephant corridor and the BES in Kinabatangan, while Liew noted it would also be a new tourism product for the state.
Nurzhafarina noted the MoU lacked transparency, as the company’s identity and credentials remain unknown.
The Sabah Wildlife Department’s (SWD) existing Captive Elephant Management Plan (CEMP) already outlines steps to improve elephant care, she added.
“This risks undermining SWD’s efforts and wasting resources,” Nurzhafarina said.
The CEMP, developed with global experts, will be launched in April, focusing on better care for captive elephants.
She added that the CEMP, defining facility roles and resources, will launch in April at the Symposium on the Implementation of the Bornean Elephant Action Plan 2020–2029.
“As a member of the Technical Working Group behind the CEMP, I believe resources should support SWD initiatives,” she said.
The CEMP was developed with experts from the Oregon Zoo, Smithsonian Institute, MAZPA, Wild Welfare, and Anantara Golden Triangle.
Towards this end, Dr. Nurzhafarina warned against profit-driven conservation, urging the state to prioritize long-term elephant welfare.
“This risks undermining SWD’s Captive Elephant Management Plan (CEMP), which already outlines critical welfare steps,” she said. - January 19, 2025
