1 week Ago By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: In his over 40 years as a wildlife ranger, Jibius Dausip was chased countless times by Borneo pygmy elephants, the very creatures he was duty-bound to protect, suffering injuries and even breaking his leg in the process.Yet, the 61-year-old from Tambunan has nothing but love for the world's smallest elephant species, and news that elephants are being poached in Tawau has left him heartbroken."Some people have negative perceptions, thinking elephants are a nuisance.
But they're not the problem – we humans are the ones encroaching on their land. So, we are the ones to blame," he told the New Straits Times."The Borneo pygmy elephant is a unique species.
It is a valuable asset, and the responsibility to protect it does not lie solely with the government, but with everyone," he said.Recounting his experience, Jibius, who retired last year as a senior ranger with the Sabah Wildlife Department, said elephants were not naturally aggressive."But when they are stressed from being chased or threatened, they may retaliate," he said.
Jibius, who is often called the "elephant whisperer", said the species faces increasing risks from human activity – including injury, poaching, and fatal encounters.He said male elephants are often poached for their ivory, with the tusks considered valuable dowry by some communities in a neighbouring country.But these are not the only threats elephants face, as there is also the risk of human-elephant conflict when elephants enter plantations in search of food.
"People know they could be held accountable if an elephant is found dead at a location, so they often use illegal shotguns known as 'No. 4' or 'BB' with small pellets, to scare the animals away."These don't kill the elephants immediately, but if the wounds become infected, the animal could die months later, far from the initial site.
"The same goes for elephants caught in snares – I've seen some lose legs or be left with exposed bone from untreated wounds."A lack of information is also a stumbling block for the authorities.In 2018, the Sabah Wildlife Department offered a RM120,000 reward for information on the killing of over 20 elephants in that year.
However, no one came forward.Jibius, who now serves as an elephant expert for the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation, proposed the allocation of large forest areas exclusively for elephants.This initiative could be undertaken by Yayasan Sabah, which manages conservation areas in Sabah, and the Sabah Forestry Department.
By creating confined sanctuaries, he said, the risks to the species could be minimised, and their population safeguarded.© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd.
