Spreading Human-Elephant Coexistence Movement: World Elephant Day 2025 in Tongod District of Sabah Landscape

Tongod, Sabah – 19 September 2025 – This year, World Elephant Day is celebrated in Tongod District, spearheaded by Tongod District Office, Sabah Wildlife Department, Earthworm Foundation, and partner agencies. More than 500 participants, including local communities, students, government agencies, and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), gathered to highlight the importance of human elephant coexistence, a growing priority in ensuring the well-being of both local communities and Bornean elephants.

Building on previous years’ momentum in Beluran District, this year’s commemoration in Tongod marks a natural step in expanding the movement for coexistence, engaging more communities and strengthening collaboration across Sabah. In areas where elephants and people share the same landscapes, encounters can sometimes put both communities and livelihoods at risk. To address this, the event highlighted community-led solutions through cultural performances, conservation awareness activities by the Wildlife Junior Rangers, and a forum on “Elephants and Community: The Role of Community Patrol Groups in Elephant Coexistence,” moderated by Earthworm and joined by the Community Elephant Ranger Team (CERT), Aki Keramuak Ranger Team, and 7Team.

Students took part in poster and colouring contests, while local community initiatives were also recognised, including the adoption of the 3P (Pemantauan, Pengawalan dan Pengiringan) or Monitoring,  Management, and Escort Standard Operational Procedure, a practical guideline developed jointly by Earthworm Foundation, Seratu Aatai, and Sabah Wildlife Department to guide community rangers during elephant encounters.

Together, these efforts highlight the importance of equipping communities to serve as the first line of stewardship in areas where human–elephant interactions occur. Tongod District Officer, Yuesri Ismail Yusof, stressed the urgency of conservation by drawing lessons from Sabah’s past, “The Bornean elephant is an irreplaceable part of our natural heritage. We must not allow it to follow the fate of the Sumatran rhinoceros, which has recently gone extinct in Sabah. Protecting elephants today means safeguarding our biodiversity, culture, and the well-being of future generations.”

Building on this call for conservation urgency, Datuk Masiung Banah, Chairman of the Sabah Housing and Town Development Board and State Assemblyman for Kuamut, emphasised the importance of shared responsibility, “Elephants are a part of Sabah’s heritage and natural identity. Most smallholders, who primarily farm palm, have had their farms safeguarded from elephant interactions, helping to ensure their livelihoods remain secure. Protecting elephants while safeguarding our communities is a challenge we must face together. Initiatives like today’s celebration in Tongod show that when government, NGOs, and communities unite, we can find solutions that benefit both people and wildlife.”

This call for unity was echoed by Sabah Wildlife Department, who highlighted that coexistence depends on strong partnerships with local people. “Sabah Wildlife Department has long recognised that the key to addressing human–elephant interactions lies in community involvement,” said Director Mohd Soffian Bin Abu Bakar. “By providing training, recognition, and platforms such as this commemoration, we empower local people to take active roles in conservation. This event reflects the growing commitment to a more inclusive and collaborative approach.”

For Earthworm Foundation, the event is not just about awareness or yearly ceremonial activities, but about building a stronger foundation for community-led conservation as part of the broader Sabah landscape initiative. Community-led patrollers are effective as first responders in reducing risks for both people and elephants. “We are proud that Tongod is starting this initiative, and with the support of government agencies, local leaders, and civil society, we hope to replicate this approach across Sabah,” said Kiah Hui Ooi, Country Representative of Earthworm Foundation Malaysia. “Empowering communities is key to ensuring long-term coexistence between people and elephants. I call on all stakeholders to join us in realising human–elephant coexistence across the landscape.”

By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the initiative continues to grow as a collective effort to protect the Bornean elephant while promoting sustainable development for local people.