Shift of paradigm needed towards improving human–elephant coexistence in monoculture landscapes in Sabah

Abstract

This article outlines the contemporary situation of the Bornean elephant Elephas maximus borneensis in Sabah (Malaysian Borneo), and focuses on the existing challenges that need to be addressed to enable people and elephants to coexist, particularly in man‐made landscapes dominated by oil‐palm plantations. Bornean elephants are confined mostly to Sabah, to the north‐east 5% of the Borneo Island. Sabah started to expand its commercial plantation sector in the early 1980s and is the largest producer of palm oil in Malaysia, contributing c. 10% of global output for this commodity. The rapid pace of plantation expansion has resulted in the loss of the majority of lowland areas that are also needed by large mammal species to sustain breeding populations. Elephants are extreme lowland/floodplain specialists, and they still attempt to use their former and preferred habitat, which is now mostly dominated by oil‐palm plantations. At the time of writing, the land‐use planning system favoured by the government insufficiently incorporates the ecological and management needs for elephants across the entire landscape. This article also highlights the need for better collaboration and coordination between stakeholders to address the increasing rate of human–elephant conflicts in Sabah.

Understanding the spatial distribution and hot spots of collared Bornean elephants in a multi-use landscape

“…In addition, the unplanned and chaotic erection of electric fences by large estates and smallholdings has disrupted significantly elephant movement patterns and resulted in artificial hot spots for certain individuals (e.g. Liun, Ita, Gading and Sejati) 35 , 72 . Electric fences have widely been used to mitigate human–elephant conflicts.…”

“…For example, males, especially those that have formed long-term, stable all male groups, sometimes use potentially “risky” areas such as agricultural landscapes and settlements 32 – 34 . Females, on the other hand, are typically less adverse to risky areas that they tend to avoid; they have also been found to reduce vocalizations and stay in tighter groups whilst outside of forested areas to minimise detection 35 .…”

Recent estimate of Asian elephants in Borneo reveals a smaller population

“…However, this potential can be upset if adult female mortality rates become high (Sukumar 1992). Since 2013, there have been some elephant mortality incidences involving family groups, including suspected poisoning in the western part of Central Sabah range, where 14 elephants died, and another incident in 2016 when seven elephants died after getting stuck inside a disused quarry pond (Othman et al 2019). Therefore, measures are needed to reduce the mortality of female-led groups, particularly from retaliatory killing for crop and property damage occurring in the peripheries of the Central Sabah Range.…”

Population status of Asian elephantsElephas maximusand key threats

“…In Sumatra, on average seven to eight elephant mortalities are reported every year as a result of conflict. Similarly, the elephant landscape in Malaysian Sabah has been impacted by the expanding human population and oil‐palm plantations fragmenting the elephant habitat (Othman et al , ). The electric fencing of these plantations has created bottlenecks that hinder the movement of elephants.…”