Joint Press Release by Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah Wildlife Department, BORA, and WWF-Malaysia  

Kota  Kinabalu,  Sabah  |  22  May  2026  –  A  multi-stakeholder  initiative  led  by  the  Sabah  Forestry  Department  (SFD),  in  collaboration  with  the  Sabah  Wildlife  Department,  BORA  and  WWF-Malaysia, marked an important step forward in addressing human-elephant conflict within the Tabin Landscape today, with a focus on planting and managing grasslands as alternative food  sources to keep elephants away from plantations and villages.  

The event brought together government agencies, plantation representatives adjacent to the Tabin  Wildlife Reserve, and local stakeholders to support efforts to improve habitat conditions for wild  elephants,  as  part  of  a  broader  landscape  approach  to  managing  conflict  between  people  and  wildlife.  

The Sabah Forestry Department reaffirmed its commitment under the Sabah Forest Policy 2018  to ensure that all forest types, ecosystems, and their biodiversity are adequately represented and  protected during the event. This includes safeguarding endangered species such as the Bornean  elephant and enriching the integrity and connectivity of their habitats.  

Highlighting the situation of elephants in the Tabin Landscape, “Currently, an estimated 200 to  250 Bornean elephants call the Tabin Wildlife Reserve their home,” said Mr Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar, Director of Sabah Wildlife Department. “This endemic subspecies faces ongoing threats, including habitat fragmentation, human-elephant conflict, and poaching. In this landscape, the risks associated with human-elephant conflict, including potential retaliatory actions, remain a  serious concern.”  

The urgency of the issue was underscored by a recent incident in Bagahak 2 Plantation, where an  elderly  man  tragically  lost  his  life  following  an  encounter  with  a  wild  elephant.  The  incident  highlights the importance of coordinated, landscape-level action and shared responsibility among  all stakeholders to manage conflict and promote safe coexistence.  

“Addressing human-elephant conflict requires collaboration across agencies, plantation owners,  and communities,” Mr Mohd Soffian added. “We must work together to implement solutions that  protect and benefit both people and wildlife.  Today’s grass planting initiative represents one of  the  key  action  points  for  the  Tabin  Managed  Elephant  Range,  as  outlined  in  the  Bornean  Elephant Action Plan for Sabah 2020–2029.”  

Encouragingly,  efforts  within  the  Tabin  Landscape  are  already  demonstrating  the  value  of  coordinated action. The Human-Elephant Working Group Committee, established in 2021 and  chaired by the Lahad Datu District Office, with Sabah Wildlife Department and WWF-Malaysia as  secretariat, brings together plantation stakeholders to coordinate initiatives such as joint electric  fencing among neighbouring estates. These efforts have contributed to reducing conflict at the  landscape level, benefiting surrounding communities.  

Central to this effort is BORA’s pilot initiative to establish managed grasslands as alternative food  sources for elephants within the Tabin Wildlife Reserve. Located near the Malambabula River,  adjacent to the KLK plantation, and along the main access road into the Reserve, these sites aim  to reduce the frequency of elephants entering plantations and community lands to forage.  

“Addressing human-elephant conflict requires us to rethink how landscapes are managed,” said  Dr Zainal Zahari Zainuddin, BORA Programme Director. “Elephants enter oil palm plantations  and villages for one simple reason: food. A long-term solution must ensure that food sources are  adequate,  reliable,  accessible,  and  safe.  Managed  grasslands  directly  address  this  need  by  offering  a  strong  alternative  to  oil  palms.  Grasses  have  no  natural  plant  toxins  and  can  regenerate after elephants feed on them.”  

“Human-elephant conflict remains one of the most pressing conservation challenges in Sabah,”  said  Dr  Cheryl  Cheah,  elephant  specialist  and  Protect  Pillar  Lead  of  WWF-Malaysia's  Sabah  Landscapes Programme. “While there is no single solution, efforts to improve habitat quality and ensure the availability of natural food sources within designated areas form part of a broader  landscape approach that supports coexistence.”  

SFD also acknowledged the support from plantation companies that have participated in these  efforts.  

“We  gratefully  thank  plantation  partners,  including  those  present  today  (Ladang  Permai,  MPOB, KLK, Sawit Kinabalu, FGV and FELDA) for supporting this initiative,” said Mr Mohd  Arapa bin Lamuda, Regional Forestry Officer, Tawau. Speaking on behalf of Datuk Zulkifli Suara,  Chief Conservator of Forests, he added, “However, to achieve long-term impact, these efforts need  to  be  scaled  across  the  Tabin  Landscape,  with  continued  participation  from  plantations  neighbouring the Reserve.”  

In line with the global theme for International Day for Biological Diversity 2026, “Acting locally  for global impact,” stakeholders were encouraged to strengthen collaboration and expand support  for solutions that address chronic challenges and contribute to long-term conservation outcomes.  

All partners reaffirmed their commitment to continuing to work together to test, refine, and scale  solutions that support sustainable coexistence between people and elephants in Sabah, including  scaling up managed grasslands as alternative feeding areas across the landscape.  

- Ends -

Photo ©John Japil/WWF-Malaysia  

Photo ©Vicculter Denius/WWF-Malaysia  

Note to the media:  
1)  All quotes are to be attributed to the designated persons quoted in this media release.  2)  Should you need more information, please see the details below but please note that  
this person is for contact purposes only and is not the organisation's authorised  spokesperson, so we would appreciate it if this name is not printed in the article.  

Marina Aman Sham  
Senior Communications Manager, Sabah Landscapes Programme, WWF-Malaysia  Tel: +60 88 262 420  Mobile: +60-12-8331976  
Email: masham@wwf.org.my  
 

About WWF-Malaysia  
World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) was established in 1972 and is part of World  Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the international conservation organisation. Working to sustain the  natural world for the benefit of people and nature, WWF-Malaysia’s efforts to conserve nature focus on  six major themes: forests, oceans, wildlife, food, climate and energy, as well as freshwater. Our mission is  to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in  harmony with nature. Find our latest news here