Malaysia: Corridor allows study of jumbos' migratory path

New Straits Times 2 Jan 13;

KOTA KINABALU: A wildlife corridor is being established between Segaliud Lokan-Deramakot and the Malua Forest Reserve to allow easier access and movement of elephants in the area.

A study had found that the Segaliud Forest Reserve, which is home to more than 300 pygmy elephants, had sufficient food sources for the pachyderms.

Experts, who discovered the unique movement patterns of these elephants, had called for the setting up of an ecological corridor between these forest reserves.

Borneo Conservation Trust's conservation and research programme head Raymond Alfred said a 10-month study concluded that the riverine forest was the key habitat for elephants in Sabah.

The study was conducted by a research team from KTS Plantation Sdn Bhd and Borneo Conservation Trust, which saw the two organisations looking into the movement patterns of elephants in Malua via satellite tracking.

"The study had found that the elephants move from northern Malua to the east of the Danum Valley at central Ulu Segama Malua.

"We had installed a radio-satellite collar on a female elephant named Segaliud. She represents between 290 and 310 elephants in the Segaliud Lokan Forest.

"The movement patterns of the elephants are unique, emphasising the importance of the riverine forest and a logging road as their main migratory path, from one forest compartment to another."

He said the corridor was developed by Kwantas Plantation Sdn Bhd and located at the northern part of the Malua Forest Reserve.

Alfred also said the Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve had the highest orang utan density in Sabah.

Most of the primates were concentrated at the southeast of the forest reserve.

"The research team had found that the main tree species used by the orang utans (either for food sources or shelter) are pioneer species, or hardy species which are the first to colonise previously disrupted or damaged ecosystems.

"Thus, the restoration programme that is being carried out in this area will also improve the density and diversity of the tree species."