By: Arum Kinasih
Editor: Iwan Wibisono

The Sabah State Government and the WWF-Malaysia team have learned a lot about the transboundary landscape of elephants in the Heart of Borneo (HoB), through their participation in a study visit held last February in Tulin Onsoi Sub-district, Nunukan District, North Kalimantan, where the only habitat for Bornean pygmy elephants (Elephas maximus borneensis) exists in Indonesia. The study visit also provided an opportunity for dialogue between the Nunukan Regency government, the North Kalimantan Provincial Government and the Sabah Government.

This is a collaborative activity organized by WWF-Indonesia and WWF-Malaysia. Currently, Borneo's pygmy elephant population is under threat, mainly due to continued habitat loss and conflict between communities and elephants. Between Sabah and North Kalimantan, elephant habitats are being converted and fragmented, and they are being pushed into smaller areas and losing access to their traditional migration routes and food sources. This transboundary elephant landscape encompassing Sabah and North Kalimantan is given a high priority status for conservation as elephant habitat has been fragmented by multiple land uses.

During the visit, the contingent from Sabah and WWF-Malaysia had the opportunity to hold a meeting with the Head of Tulin Onsoi Sub-District, Mr. Santipil Oslo and also with some local community representatives. For Mr. Oslo, the research made him very happy because Tulin Onsoi sub-district is one of the elephant habitats. ""There is a need to manage and reduce the conflicts that elephants create with the local communities as the elephants destroy their crops,"" Mr. Oslo said.

The visit participants then traveled to Tinampak Village to understand the landscape on the North Kalimantan side and see the damage done by elephants to local people's crops. The next day, the whole group continued the human-elephant conflict discussion with the local community, who are also members of the human-elephant conflict task force - set up by WWF-Indonesia and Tulin Onsoi District. Locals hope that there will be more serious efforts to reduce human-elephant conflicts.

On a different occasion, the Sabah contingent had the opportunity to have informal discussions with government representatives from Nunukan District and North Kalimantan Province. During the informal meeting, a common understanding was developed on the need for further cooperation in the conservation of Borneo's elephants. This visit was a window of opportunity to bridge cross-border work between Indonesia and Malaysia. It is hoped that HoB - WWF will facilitate the continuation of this cross-border effort.