In the dense jungles of Malaysia’s Borneo, conservationist Farina Othman and her team are engaged in a critical effort to protect the endangered Bornean elephant, a species whose population numbers approximately 1,000 in the wild. Operating in Sabah’s Lower Kinabatangan floodplain, where habitat loss has reduced elephant territory by more than 60 percent over the past four decades, Farina’s work involves minimizing human-elephant conflicts through innovative tracking and community engagement programs.

The team recently conducted a field operation to fit a tracking collar on a tranquilized Bornean elephant known as "Pigtail," identified by its distinctive tail. Such collars are pivotal to Farina’s broader initiative aimed at creating ecological corridors that link fragmented patches of forest amid extensive oil palm plantations and expanding villages. These corridors are intended to provide safe passage for elephants, reducing encounters that often lead to conflict.

Bornean elephants face increasing pressure as their habitats shrink due to logging and the proliferation of palm oil agriculture, particularly across Sabah’s Lower Kinabatangan region. Of the approximate 160 elephants that inhabit this 400-square-kilometer area, only half now have suitable space. The encroachment into human settlements and plantations triggers inevitable disputes, as illustrated by a recent event in which a herd of 20 elephants entered plantations and three villages, causing fear but no injuries.

Human-elephant tension is exacerbated when large bulls, which may weigh up to five tonnes, circumvent electric fencing to raid crops, heightening local anxiety. Farina’s organization, Seratu Aatai, which means “Solidarity” in the local Sungai language, strives to foster coexistence. Based in the riverside community of Sukau, the group engages in outreach at plantation schools, disseminates educational materials, and deploys “community wildlife guardians” to safely guide elephants away from populated areas.

Locals like homestay owner Firah Kazenn note improved relations with elephants since Seratu Aatai began its work, learning safer methods of deterring elephants without harm. “The elephants were unmonitored before, and many were lost to conflict,” Kazenn said, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in conservation efforts.

A central component of Farina’s strategy involves persuading seven local oil palm plantations to accommodate elephant corridors that connect isolated forest remnants. However, economic considerations create obstacles. Former plantation manager Muhammad Al Shafieq bin Mustafa pointed out that many plantations hesitate to allocate land for corridors, citing tight financial margins and limited recognition or support from the broader palm oil market, including Western buyers. Industry representatives acknowledge progress toward sustainable palm oil production but underscore the need for solutions that benefit both agriculture and wildlife.

Daniel Pamin, a sustainability executive at the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation, stressed the importance of a “win-win situation” between planters and wildlife to ensure long-term success.

Farina remains optimistic that community attitudes will continue to shift. While past efforts centered on “halau,” a Malay term meaning to chase away elephants, her team now encourages locals to think in terms of “walking” or “escorting” elephants safely out of human spaces, reflecting a broader transition toward coexistence and mutual respect between people and these endangered giants.