BY SOON LI WEI
KINABATANGAN: Malaysia, as one of the world’s leading palm oil producers, often faces international scrutiny and boycotts, with allegations of unsustainable practices and environmental degradation.
Ranked second globally after Indonesia, Malaysia is frequently criticised by Western nations for perceived shortcomings in the sustainability of its palm oil industry.
Critics argue that palm oil cultivation contributes to deforestation and the loss of biodiversity, endangering protected species like orangutans, Bornean elephants, hornbills, and others.
However, ecotourism initiatives spearheaded by the state government, in partnership with palm oil companies and other stakeholders, challenge these claims by showcasing sustainable practices and conservation efforts.
Sabah, in particular, has demonstrated its commitment to preserving natural resources through impactful conservation projects and comprehensive environmental and wildlife protection programmes.
Visitors can experience firsthand the sustainability efforts undertaken by palm oil companies in Sabah, where plantations coexist harmoniously with biodiversity and local communities.
Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a five-day media trip (Nov 12-16) to the Wildlife Corridor in Brunas, the Sungai Pin Conservation Area, and the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary (BES). Organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Fund (MPOGCF) in collaboration with Gaya Travel, the trip brought together 15 other media representatives.
For us from Peninsular Malaysia, it was a truly remarkable experience to closely observe and interact with endangered wildlife while visiting palm oil plantations and conservation areas managed by palm oil companies.
Wildlife corridor
Upon arriving at Tawau International Airport on the first day of our expedition, Nov 12, we embarked on a four-hour bus journey to the Brumas Wildlife Corridor project site, managed by Sabah Softwood Berhad (SSB).
Following a briefing by SSB officials, we toured the replanting areas of SSB’s plantation, where we had the opportunity to explore the Brumas Wildlife Corridor, now open for tourism activities.
Excitement was palpable among many of us as we admired the lush trees lining the route to the project site, travelling in four-wheel-drive vehicles. The experience was further enhanced by the breathtaking sunset behind rows of tall, slender trees gently swaying in the evening breeze, as if they were welcoming our arrival.
According to SSB’s acting head of Planting and Sustainability Mohd Hafizzul Samutu, the Brumas Wildlife Corridor was established in 2014 on the company’s 41,500-hectare land in Brumas. It connects Class 1 Forest Reserves between Ulu Segama in the north and Ulu Kalumpang in the southeast.
Spanning 13.89 kilometres and ranging in width from 400 to 800 metres, the corridor facilitates the free movement of wildlife across a much larger area.
“Developed in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), this long-term strategy aims to reduce conflicts between humans and Bornean elephants, as well as other wildlife like orangutans and sun bears, in and around palm oil plantations, all while ensuring that crops and community property remain unharmed.
“We also launched a pilot project to plant Taiwan Napier grass along the corridor as part of a habitat enrichment effort. This project, in collaboration with MPOGCF and Universiti Putra Malaysia, received a RM500,000 grant from MPOGCF to attract more wildlife to use the corridor.
“In addition to planting Napier grass, the collaboration also involves fitting elephant collars to monitor their movements, setting up camera traps to identify wildlife, and planting 85,516 trees along the corridor from 2014 to last October,” he said.
Mohd Hafizzul added that no fences, let alone electric barriers, are installed, allowing elephants to roam freely within the plantation area. To date, no incidents of elephants attacking humans have been reported in the area.
“Since 2014, we have drastically reduced wildlife-related losses from RM500,000 a year to just RM5,000 as of last year, while avoiding conflicts with humans,” he said.
He also noted that the plantation has been opened to tourism to educate the public about their conservation success, achieved with support from various stakeholders.
“This is also an effort to counter claims by Western critics who accuse palm oil plantations here of destroying the environment and biodiversity, while promoting the sustainability of palm oil.
“Last year, we launched the Brumas Wildlife Run as a limited-distance event. This year, it expanded to a 20-kilometre route within the plantation, and it will now become an annual event,” he said.
Sanctuary
On the third day of the MPOGCF media visit, we were taken to the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary (BES) in Kinabatangan. This conservation centre focuses on rescuing, treating, and sheltering orphaned and injured Bornean elephants found in palm oil plantations and residential areas nearby.
The Bornean elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis), the smallest species of Asian elephants, is endemic to Borneo and classified as endangered.
We were welcomed by Sylvia Alsisto, Kinabatangan District Wildlife Officer, and Jibius Dausip, an elephant expert and retired officer from the Sabah Wildlife Department.
Sylvia explained that BES currently houses seven pygmy elephants, six males and one female, Agatis, who is 14 months old.
“Most of the elephants here were rescued from palm oil plantations and workers’ quarters, where they caused damage to crops and property after complaints from residents.
“The 1,214-hectare Borneo Elephant Sanctuary serves as a refuge for these endangered animals, providing medical care and shelter for injured or orphaned elephants, ensuring the survival of future generations.
“The sanctuary was the brainchild of then director of the Sabah Wildlife Department Datuk Patrick Andau in 2007. Construction began in 2012, with facilities such as an elephant handling enclosure, staff quarters, and a storage building completed by June 28, 2013,” she shared.
Currently, BES is open only to school visits and official delegations for educational purposes, Sylvia said, adding that “We are not yet open to the public to ensure the safety of the rescued elephants housed here.”
After the briefing, we were given the chance to interact with Agatis and Amuak, the two youngest Bornean elephants at the sanctuary, both of whom were separated from their mothers.
When we approached Agatis, the only female Bornean elephant at the centre, her ears flapped, and her long trunk gently touched us, seemingly happy with our presence. She was carefully supervised by her keeper.
The elephants are named after the locations where they were rescued. Agatis was found in Agatis Plantation, Tawau, over 600 days ago, while Amuak was rescued around the last 100 days in Kampung Karamuak, Telupid, Sandakan.
Agatis, then 14 months old and 3 feet 7 inches tall, was discovered injured and wandering aimlessly in the plantation.
“We found Agatis injured but couldn’t determine the cause. She had been abandoned by her herd.
“When separated from her group, she appeared stressed. She was running aimlessly when rescued, with minor injuries not caused by animal attacks.
“When we encounter such cases, we first try to reunite the calf with its herd. If the calf is injured, we have no choice but to provide medical care,” explained Jibius, adding that each elephant at BES has its own unique story.
At the open pen housing five adult elephants, some of them approached us, flapping their ears and seemingly happy to see visitors.
Jibius noted that most elephants at BES have been tamed and trained to be human-friendly, although the risks of working with aggressive elephants remain.
“I’ve spent over 37 years training and managing elephants, often facing dangers from aggressive ones.
“I’ve been trampled, kicked, and even had a broken leg from elephants. It’s part of the job, and I can still feel the pain today.
“Bornean elephants are special because they are unique to this island. Despite the injuries, I still love working with them,” said the 61-year-old retired officer.
Bornean elephant
MPOGCF conservation officer Daniel Pamin, shared that RM2.7 million has been allocated to the BES for constructing a new elephant clinic and enclosure to accommodate more rescued Bornean elephants for conservation purposes.
“Starting next year, the sanctuary’s capacity will likely increase, with veterinarians from the Sabah Wildlife Department working full-time here. Elephant experts will also be deployed to install tracking collars and handle the relocation of pygmy elephants.
“The construction project will take three years, and we are planning dedicated areas for young elephants. Future expansion of facilities is also being considered for the sanctuary’s rear area,” he said.
Daniel added that an additional RM1.2 million is being spent on a survey project to assess the populations of pygmy elephants and orangutans. The data will aid in protecting these species from the same fate as the Sumatran rhinoceros, now extinct in Borneo.
“We aim to ensure that wildlife, especially those living near forest reserves and venturing into palm oil plantations, can coexist with humans. This contributes to conservation efforts by various stakeholders, including through ecotourism,” he said.
Western allegations on sustainability
MPOGCF general manager Hairulazim Mahmud highlighted the ongoing efforts to enhance Malaysia’s reputation amidst negative narratives from Western countries concerning environmental and wildlife conservation within the palm oil industry.
He pointed out that these narratives are often linked to regulations such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which has resulted in boycotts of Malaysian palm oil by some Western countries.
“They accuse us of failing to uphold environmental sustainability, engaging in deforestation, and neglecting wildlife protection,” he said.
“Through ecotourism initiatives, particularly in areas surrounding palm oil plantations, tourists can observe firsthand the conservation efforts led by state governments in collaboration with palm oil companies and other stakeholders. These efforts showcase a balance between economic development and environmental preservation, helping to challenge and change negative perceptions.
“Ecotourism in Sabah is particularly unique, as it highlights the strong interconnectedness between the palm oil industry, forest areas, and wildlife,” he noted.
Hairulazim added that by engaging in wildlife conservation and ecotourism, Malaysia’s palm oil industry demonstrates its commitment to meeting global sustainability standards. This includes certifications such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO), with the goal of gaining support from international markets and consumers. – BERNAMA
