Letter to Editor                                           6 February 2020

Sabah has had a challenging year with constant media attention on wildlife issues and numerous deaths of pygmy elephants. In 2019, 24 deaths were recorded with five occurring in the space of four months. These deaths are seldom attributed to natural causes. Illegal hunting, poaching, poisoning and snaring are common causes of these deaths. Although accidents do occur, most deaths appear to have been deliberate, retaliatory killings, after the elephants enter into agricultural areas, where crops are eaten and the ground is trampled. Whatever the motive, the killings are unnecessary.

It is evident that human-elephant conflict (HEC) is a major issue that is now confronting Sabah. These elephants are displaced as a result of the loss of their habitat, which has been divided into sections, impacting their home ranges and natural movement. One of the main causes of these divisions is the issuance of licences for monoculture plantations in the midst of the animal’s habitat. In the end, this has resulted in increased conflicts and killings of elephants in Sabah. 

Letter to Editor                                           4 October 2019

Sabah has made headlines time and again with the deaths of the pygmy elephants.  What shocked Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) was the manner in which the poor elephant was brutally gunned down.  Not only was it shot at several times, its tusks were also hacked off. 

The continuous spate of  killing of elephants is reflective of poor government delivery system; that it happens often enough can only mean that those entrusted with the tasks, namely the Wildlife Department are not doing enough. 

However, with the public outcry and the latest  probe into the incident aided by the police that led to the arrests of the six suspects,  there may be light at the end of the tunnel for the remaining elephant population.  Credit must  be given to the informer too  that led to the quick arrests of the suspects.

Surat Kepada Pengarang                             4 Oktober 2019

Sabah sekali lagi menjadi tajuk berita utama dan sekali lagi mengenai kematian gajah pigmi. Apa yang mengejutkan Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) ialah cara gajah itu yang ditembak dengan kejam. Bukan hanya ditembak beberapa kali, gadingnya juga turut dipotong.

Kejadian pembunuhan gajah yang berterusan ini menggambarkan betapa lemahnya sistem penyampaian kerajaan; ia sering berlaku dan ini sudah cukup untuk menggambarkan bahawa mereka yang diamanahkan dengan tugas ini  iaitu Jabatan Hidupan Liar tidak melakukan sesuatu yang cukup berkesan.

Bagaimanapun, dengan bantahan orang ramai dan siasatan terbaharu terhadap insiden itu yang dibantu oleh pihak polis yang membawa kepada penangkapan enam suspek, mungkin masih ada harapan bagi bilangan gajah yang masih ada. Pujian mestilah diberikan kepada pemberi maklumat yang membawa kepada penangkapan segera suspek itu.

Media Statement                                        19 February 2017

Kenyataan Akhbar                                      20 Januari 2017

Gajah adalah tidak setanding dengan pemburu haram. Pembunuhan dua ekor gajah pigmi Borneo menunjukkan pemburu haram berada di mana-mana sudut negara ini menunggu masa untuk menyerang bila-bila masa yang tidak dijangka.

Di masa lalu, gajah pigmi menjadi mangsa keracunan yang dilaporkan dilakukan oleh pekerja ladang kelapa sawit untuk menghalang gajah-gajah ini daripada memakan buah pokok kelapa sawit. Pada September lepas, sekumpulan gajah terperangkap dalam kolam berlumpur di Rinukut selama seminggu mengakibatkan tujuh kematian.