Malaysia’s ‘elephant whisperer’ leads push to save Sabah’s endangered Bornean elephants

In Malaysia's Borneo jungle, conservationist Farina Othman and her team work tirelessly to save the endangered Bornean elephants. The species, which numbers around 1,000 in the wild, faces a significant threat from habitat loss due to logging and oil palm expansion. As a result, more than 60% of their habitat has been lost in Sabah, northern Borneo, in the past 40 years.

Farina, known as "Borneo's elephant whisperer," uses a unique approach to monitor and protect the elephants. She attaches GPS collars to the animals, allowing her to alert villagers if the elephants stray too close to human settlements. The team's efforts are crucial in creating "corridors" for the elephants to move safely between fragmented forest patches, which are surrounded by vast oil palm plantations and villages.

According to Farina, conflict between elephants and local communities is inevitable. A recent incident saw a herd of 20 elephants enter palm oil plantations and three villages, causing distress among residents. While no one was injured, the event highlighted the need for better deterrents, such as upgraded electric fencing.

To promote coexistence, Farina's team focuses on increasing people's tolerance for elephants and creating connectivity spaces for them to roam freely. This includes educating plantation schools, distributing informational pamphlets, and designating "community wildlife guardians" who help steer elephants away from human habitation when necessary.

One homestay owner, Firah Kazenn, shared her positive experience with the program, noting that the elephants have become safer and more manageable under the Seratu Aatai's guidance.