WWF-Malaysia Takes Measures To Address Elephant-Human Conflict, Fish-Bombing

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah, Malaysia), Nov 15 (Bernama) -- The World Wide Fund for Nature-Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) is taking various measures to address the elephant-human conflict and fish-bombing activity in east Malaysian state Sabah. WWF-Malaysia Conservation director Dr Henry Chan said the measures were carried out in collaboration with various agencies such as the Sabah Wildlife Department, Sabah Parks and several stakeholders. He said in addressing the elephant-human conflict, WWF-Malaysia had installed satellite collars on 13 elephants in forest areas in eastern Sabah. "Through the installation of the satellite collar, the elephants' movements are monitored every four hours and the information is also shared with plantation companies which have forged cooperation with WWF-Malaysia. "This is to enable them (the plantation companies) to inform their workers about the elephants," he told reporters after making a courtesy call on Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal here Thursday. The courtesy call was led by Tunku Ali Redhauddin Tuanku Muhriz, the WWF-Malaysia chairman. What was more important, Henry said, was the effort to create a wildlife corridor to facilitate the movement of elephants. He said for that, the state government-linked company Sabah Sofwood Berhad would build a 1,000-hectare wildlife corridor, located between Ulu Segama and Ulu Kalumpang. On the fish bombing, Henry said WWF-Malaysia had forged cooperation with Hong Kong-based non-governmental organisation as well as relevant authorities to tackle such activity in Sabah waters. -- BERNAMA