Hot on the heels of a herd of Bornean elephants feeding on Napier grass planted in Kinabatangan's Bilit ecotourism area, their jumbo "cousins" have also been seen foraging on the grass in neighbouring Lahad Datu. An estimated 30 elephants, including young calves, have grazed the area over the past two weeks. The grass pasture, initiated at the periphery of the Tabin reserve by Bora in 2021, is an award-winning initiative that began with Napier grass planting on a 20-hectare site at the southern fringe of Tabin. Borneo Rhino Alliance (Bora) Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr John Payne said that strong support from the Sabah Wildlife Department, Forestry Department and nearby plantations is allowing them to carry out conservation work to reduce or eliminate human-elephant conflicts. "This year, a grant from CIMB Foundation has allowed us to jointly expand the pasture to other sites on the fringe of Tabin. Collaboration is key. Bora and Respect as NGOs have similar aims—to manage wild elephants by creating a series of feeding grounds. Every day they feed there is a day out of the estates, farms, or villages," he added.
