Uniting Communities for Coexistence: Sabah Marks World Elephant Day 2025 in Tongod

19 September 2025

TONGOD: This year, World Elephant Day was marked in Tongod District with a strong call for human–elephant coexistence, led by the Tongod District Office, Sabah Wildlife Department, Earthworm Foundation, and partner agencies.

The event drew over 500 participants, including local communities, students, government agencies, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), underscoring the growing priority of balancing community well-being with the protection of the Bornean elephant.

Building on momentum from previous years in Beluran District, the move to Tongod represents a natural step in expanding the coexistence movement, engaging new communities and strengthening cross-district collaboration in Sabah.

In landscapes where people and elephants live side by side, encounters can pose risks to both lives and livelihoods. To address this, the programme highlighted community-led solutions through cultural performances, awareness activities by Wildlife Junior Rangers, and a forum on “Elephants and Community: The Role of Community Patrol Groups in Elephant Coexistence”. The forum featured the Community Elephant Ranger Team (CERT), the Aki Keramuak Ranger Team, and 7Team, moderated by Earthworm Foundation.

Students also participated in poster and colouring competitions, while community initiatives were celebrated, including the adoption of the 3P (Pemantauan, Pengawalan dan Pengiringan) or Monitoring, Management, and Escort Standard Operating Procedure. Developed by Earthworm Foundation, Seratu Aatai, and the Sabah Wildlife Department, the guideline equips community rangers with practical steps to follow during elephant encounters.

Tongod District Officer, Yuesri Ismail Yusof, underscored the urgency of conservation, warning against repeating past losses.

“The Bornean elephant is an irreplaceable part of our natural heritage. We must not allow it to share the fate of the Sumatran rhinoceros, which has gone extinct in Sabah. Protecting elephants today means safeguarding our biodiversity, culture, and future generations’ well-being,” he said.

This message was echoed by Datuk Masiung Banah, Chairman of the Sabah Housing and Town Development Board and State Assemblyman for Kuamut, who stressed the importance of shared responsibility.

“Elephants are part of Sabah’s heritage and natural identity. Most smallholders have had their farms safeguarded from elephant interactions, protecting their livelihoods. Protecting elephants while safeguarding our communities is a challenge we must face together. Today’s celebration shows that when government, NGOs, and communities unite, we can find solutions that benefit both people and wildlife.”

Sabah Wildlife Department Director, Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar, highlighted community involvement as the cornerstone of coexistence.

“Sabah Wildlife Department has long recognised that the key to addressing human–elephant interactions lies in community involvement. By providing training, recognition, and platforms such as this commemoration, we empower local people to take active roles in conservation.”

For Earthworm Foundation, the event represents a step towards embedding community-led conservation into the broader Sabah landscape initiative.

Country Representative Kiah Hui Ooi said, “Empowering communities is key to ensuring long-term coexistence between people and elephants. Community-led patrollers are effective first responders in reducing risks for both. With the support of government agencies, local leaders, and civil society, we hope to replicate this approach across Sabah.”

By bringing together diverse stakeholders, World Elephant Day in Tongod reaffirmed that protecting the Bornean elephant goes hand in hand with safeguarding communities, fostering sustainable development, and preserving Sabah’s natural heritage.