KOTA KINABALU: “We are very concern over reports on the deaths of elephants especially the brutal attack of a jumbo in Tongod.”
It once again raises the need for every stakeholder and people to play their role in helping the conservation of our endangered elephants, said Alexander Yee, the
Protem chairman of
RESPECT (RESPonsible Elephant Conservation Trust)
The responsibility is for everyone to come forward by playing their role in helping build awareness on the serious need for conservation and not just leave to the authorities and place the blame on any single authority or individual, he said.
“There is a need for people especially in the east coast areas of Sabah where elephants roam to come forward and provide information on poachers or other individuals who might be directly or indirectly behind the deaths.”
When asked about the recent allegations that Sabah Wildlife Department has not been transparent in providing data on elephant death, he said, “I believe that everyone in the field is helping out in the conservation of our elephants and are aware of all efforts involved in saving the elephants.”
“The Wildlife department is rather transparent. We just need to engage more with them.”
He added that “at this point, we suggest to set up a website containing information on elephant death cases, the locations of found death and also rewards (if any) given to person providing information that leads to catching the culprit.”
Alexander has had close collaborations with the Sabah Wildlife Department for over 10 years in Kinabatangan (through the tourism association KiTA where he is its elected president).
With several like-minded people, Alexander is in the midst of setting up a Trust aiming at protecting the natural habitat of elephants.
He said “in our
effort to work together with Sabah Wildlife Department and the Sabah Forestry Department, we have submitted the required documents for the setting up of a trust focusing on elephant habitat management – RESPECT, RESPonsible Elephant Conservation Trust and it is in the process of being formed” he stressed.
Alexander will be the chairman of RESPECT.-BNN
