‘It’s okay, it’s okay! I’ve a shock for you.’
We’re zipping alongside the Kinabatangan River in a metallic longtail boat. It’s 4 pm and the solar nonetheless has some sting to it, however it’s the proper time for wildlife recognizing in Borneo. The engine is loudly buzzing behind us however we’re all completely silent. The one voice we will hear is that of our wildlife river information, Nelson.
Sitting in the back of the boat, I can see everybody leaning ahead in anticipation, with their heads all angled in a barely completely different route and pointing exterior to wildlife within the bushes. On the entrance of the boat, everybody has their eyes locked straight down the centre of the river, able to see no matter seems on the opposite aspect of every river bend. In the course of the boat, heads are turned outwards to the financial institution on the left and proper aspect, binoculars on the prepared.
Straight forward, there’s greater than 10 pygmy elephants alongside the riverbank, flapping their large ears and swinging their lengthy tails whereas feeding on the river grass.
‘Chill out, chill out. The whole lot is below management. You’ll see,’ Nelson says.
I hold glancing over my left shoulder to see Nelson standing tall along with his hand on the engine, making an attempt to observe his gaze with mine as he steers us alongside the river’s edge. He’s completely relaxed, smiling and proper at residence on the Kinabatangan, a spot he’s known as residence for over 30 years. He is aware of precisely what he’s on the lookout for however in the meantime, I’m making an attempt to learn him for any clues – only a sneak peek of what’s coming.
‘AHHHAAA!’ he says, simply as we fly across the river bend earlier than abruptly stopping.
Straight forward, there’s greater than 10 pygmy elephants alongside the riverbank, flapping their large ears and swinging their lengthy tails whereas feeding on the river grass. It is a second I’ll always remember.
‘I do know these ones nicely,’ Nelson laughs. ‘They all the time steal the bananas from my farm!’
Bornean elephants are in danger
Based on WWF, it’s estimated that there’s fewer than 1500 Borneo pygmy elephants left within the wild. Habitat loss is one among their largest threats. That’s the place RESPonsible Elephant Conservation Belief (RESPECT), a companion of The Intrepid Basis, comes into the image.
I obtained along with a number of pals and spoke to them in regards to the thought, however at the moment, planting meals for any form of wildlife, for any form of conservation effort was fairly exceptional.
On the finish of my 11-day journey via Borneo on the Sabah Journey, I had the prospect to satisfy with Alexander Yee, chairman of RESPECT, to be taught extra about these unimaginable creatures – and why creating meals sources is so vital.
A child elephant walked into a college canteen…
This isn’t the beginning of a nasty joke. It’s the beginning of an ideal thought.
‘In 2018, I bear in mind studying within the information a couple of child elephant that went right into a major faculty and walked into the canteen,’ Alexander explains. ‘In order that made me suppose, why did this elephant go to the varsity? He went in there on the lookout for meals.’
Just like the herd we noticed on the river – the identical ones that steal Nelson’s bananas – Borneo’s pygmy elephants are all going through the identical downside. Meals shortages. Or worse, human-elephant battle the place elephants proceed to make their method into close by villages when looking for meals as a consequence of habitat loss. Sadly, to guard the crops (and supply of revenue) inside these villages, small traps are set as much as deter the elephants, and typically trigger hurt.
‘That gave me the concept of desirous to plant grass as an alternative choice to the food regimen of the elephants,’ Alexander continues. ‘I obtained along with a number of pals and spoke to them in regards to the thought, however at the moment, planting meals for any form of wildlife, for any form of conservation effort was fairly exceptional.’
Many individuals have been skeptical, however finally, a belief was arrange: RESPECT. The primary mission began by rising grass close to the varsity – the place the newborn elephant was as soon as noticed.
‘The positioning we selected was very barren and was once a sawmill website,’ Alexander explains. Not solely was the soil not fertile, however there was additionally a thick layer of timber offcuts that prevented the primary batch of grass from rising.
‘So, the 2 years weren’t profitable, however that gave us nice perception on the way to enhance,’ he provides.
New meals options in new locations
Alexander was born in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and has owned and managed mattress and breakfasts within the capital for years, and extra not too long ago, that prolonged to an eco-lodge close to the Kinabatangan River.
‘I used to be wanting to maneuver the grass planting website someplace close to me,’ he says. ‘I assumed someplace close to Kinabatangan can be extra appropriate, as there was additionally analysis understanding there are some herds in Kinabatangan.’
Alexander discovered a website close to the lodge in a fertile space and floodplain, making it completely appropriate for planting napier grass, which is thought to be an ideal supply of vitamin and complement an elephant’s pure food regimen.
Whereas there are nonetheless elephants, let’s do our half. Once we nonetheless have sure sorts of birds, sure forms of sea creatures, sure animals, let’s do our half to guard them.
In Could 2024, staff members from the Intrepid workplace in Kota Kinabalu and The Intrepid Basis participated in a ceremony on the lodge to interrupt floor collectively and plant the napier grass. For the reason that first planting, the grass has grown 5 ft tall.
‘Now we’re simply ready for the elephants to come back by now. Simply as we speak there’s a sighting of a herd – if they arrive by, we would like them to proceed coming again to the positioning,’ Alexander explains.
‘What I look most ahead too, is now that the grass has grown to a very good dimension, I would love the herds within the space to search out the grass,’ he says. ‘Elephants have such good reminiscence and can bear in mind the place to search out meals, so the positioning we’ve got cleared and planted will probably be recognized to them as a meals supply. I hope they stumble throughout it, and I do know they’ll prefer it and are available again.’
Caring for the locations the wildlife name residence
‘I feel if you see any type of wildlife, for me, particularly the elephants, for those who see the younger ones, the actually small, cute ones, you’ll in all probability are likely to marvel how finest to ensure this little creature survives. That’s the place the meals supply is available in,’ says Alexander.
To guard the locations we go to on our travels, Alexander emphasizes that we have to ‘be sure it’s there for future era.’ He goes on so as to add it’s everybody’s duty to preserve and defend the earth. ‘It’s not simply the inspiration or RESPECT, however each one among us performs a small and main position in ensuring the place we’re residing in is a greater place.’
As our dialog wraps up, Alexander says, ‘whereas there are nonetheless elephants, let’s do our half. Once we nonetheless have sure sorts of birds, sure forms of sea creatures, sure animals, let’s do our half to guard them.’
Later that day I opened a WhatsApp message from Alexander with a video of elephants discovering their method to the napier grass block. The swinging tails, flapping ears and leftover grass is a primary step in the suitable route. The elephants will (hopefully) always remember the place to search out this new meals supply, simply as I’ll always remember my expertise seeing wild elephants on the Kinabatangan River.
Be taught extra in regards to the conservation being undertaken by RESPECT and the way The Intrepid Basis helps them. You may plant grass for pygmy elephants on the Borneo Household Vacation Consolation journey, one among our new and revamped household journeys. Discover out what else is new for 2025 with The Items.