Gentle reminder for plantation workers who trap pygmy elephants

Jason Santos Jason Santos Updated 7 years ago · Published on 27 Aug 2018 4:58PM · 3 Comments

Christina Liew says the authorities are looking for ways to resolve the trapping of pygmy elephants by plantation workers, and that amendments to the law will be carried out for now. – The Malaysian Insight pic, August 27, 2018.

SABAH’S pygmy elephants are under threat, but all oil palm plantation workers will get for setting snare traps is a tongue wagging from the Sabah Wildlife Department.

The department said that it would only give advice, and that it wanted plantation companies to act against workers who set traps around in forest reserve areas surrounding plantations.

Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said this today as he recounted the department’s recent collaboration with non-governmental organisations to remove the traps.

“Together with WWF, we cleared snare traps surrounding one plantation in Lahad Datu owned by Felcra.

“The traps were laid by its workers. We want the management to take action against their workers.

“It is not okay to put traps in plantations,” Tuuga told reporters after launching the “Umbrelephant” campaign in conjunction with World Elephant Day today.

Also present was Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Christina Liew.

Sabah pygmy elephants are under threat from traps set on their traditional stomping grounds by plantation workers.   

This year alone, some 10 elephants have died or been injured by snare traps and gunshot wounds, while others have died of starvation after being trapped in mud pits.

Sabah is Malaysia’s largest cultivator of palm oil. The sector is the largest contributor to the state’s gross domestic product.  

Liew, when asked whether the state government would amend the Wildlife Conservation Enactment to stop the plantation workers, said the authorities were looking for ways to resolve the matter.

For now, no amendments to the law will be carried out, she said.

There are an estimated 2,000 elephants left in the Sabah wild.

Pygmy elephants, with habitats mostly in Tawau, Sandakan, Lahad Batu, and Kinabatangan, are indigenous to Sabah and are not found anywhere else in the world. – August 27, 2018.

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Comments

  • Come on, what does it take to stop this cruelty???

    Posted 7 years ago by Gaik Cheng Khoo · Reply

  • While waiting for the laws to be amended which will take a long time, immediate action must be taken to protect our wildlife. Can we send in our army to patrol the areas and stop these workers from setting further traps. They can also go after the poachers..shoot on sight if have to!!

    Posted 7 years ago by Lily Cheong · Reply

  • The agriculture ministry needs to remove palm plants to create corridors for elephants to roam safely. If their favourite food is planted in the corridors they wont stray. Also elephants have traditional routes they use. Dont plant palm oil in these area. Time is running out- this has to happen now.

    Posted 7 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply