Malaysia: Elephants feeding on Orang Asli crops

SIRA HABIBU The Star 9 Aug 19;

PETALING JAYA: Rampaging elephants are destroying Orang Asli community farms in Pos Simpor near Gua Musang, Kelantan, sparking fears of famine during the coming rainy season.

Villagers in Kampung Jader, Kampung Penad and Kampung Ceranok claimed that logging and land-clearing activities in the Balah Forest Reserve had forced the elephants out of their normal habitat, leaving them to forage for food in villages.

Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Wilayah Tanah Adat Pos Simpor chairman Nur Mohd Syafiq Dendi Abdullah said the elephants had been destroying the community’s self-sustainable farms since July.“Our tapioca, pumpkin, corn and banana plants have been destroyed, affecting over 200 people from 48 households here.

“We fear the worst during the rainy season as it will be difficult for us to go to town in Gua Musang to get our grocery supplies.“We have always relied on our own food crops, especially during the rainy season when the towns are flooded and we are locked down in the jungle, ” he added.

He expressed concerns that with no tapioca and corn to eat, the villagers might be malnourished and susceptible to diseases.

“We hope the authorities will help us resolve this problem soon as it will take several months to grow tapioca before the year-end flood season, ” he said.

Mohd Syafiq added that in the past, they could easily scare the pachyderms away using smoke and bonfire.

“But nowadays, the elephants do not care if we make loud noises using all sorts of tools. The elephants are no longer fearful of people, smoke or noise.

“Elephants and tigers are actually shy animals that stay away from people. They only dare to come near us when they are desperate for food. We can’t blame them as they, too, are hungry.

“This would not happen if the authorities impose sustainable policies to protect the jungle and wildlife, ” he said.

Kelantan Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) director Ady Ermanty Haniff Mohamed Hanif said personnel from Gua Musang were deployed to the site on July 19, a day after the Orang Asli Development Department lodged a complaint.“But they could not access the site because of the badly damaged logging track, ” he said, adding that Perhilitan would continue to monitor the elephant intrusion in Pos Simpor.

He also ruled out the option of relocating the elephants as the 14-tonne trailer needed to ferry them (two at a time) could not ply the non-tarred logging track.

“The only access to the location is through the logging track, which stretches 45km, ” he noted.

Group: Authorities failed to provide secure wildlife corridor
SIRA HABIBU The Star 10 Aug 19;

PETALING JAYA: The intrusion of elephants into Orang Asli villages in Kelantan is an indication of failure by authorities to provide secure wildlife corridor for these animals, says an environmental group.

Environmental Protection Society Malaysia president Nithi Nesadurai said authorities should have imposed stringent conditions to protect wildlife before giving permits for logging and land-clearing activities.

“It is important to secure the corridor for wildlife to move deeper into the jungle when their habitats are destroyed for commercial gain.

“And it is unfortunate that wildlife and Orang Asli suffer the consequences of environmental degradation, while a handful of plantation operators and loggers enjoy monetary gain, ” he said.

He said taxpayers also had to bear the cost of rehabilitation, as uncontrolled development could lead to flash floods and cause damage to infrastructure and amenities.

Nithi said the authorities should have thought about the consequences and mitigation plan before giving permits for logging and land clearing.

The Star yesterday reported that villagers in Kampung Jader, Kampung Penad, and Kampung Ceranok feared food shortage and famine during the rainy season, if the elephants continued to destroy their crops.

Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Wilayah Tanah Adat Pos Simpor chairman Nur Mohd Syafiq Dendi Abdullah had said about 30 elephants had encroached into three villages destroying their tapioca, pumpkin, corn, and banana plants since the middle of last month.

Meanwhile, Kelantan Department of Wildlife director Ady Ermanty Haniff Mohamed Hanif said the department could not gain access to the location in off-road vehicles because the logging trail was badly damaged.

Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Kelantan chairman Mustafa Along said the community had to pay a high price when the authorities failed to protect the forest from shrinking further.

“Logging and land clearing destroys not only our livelihood, but also away way of life.

“Now that the wildlife have started feeding on crops, those affected have to rely heavily on outside food.

“And to go outside to town, they have to spend a fortune on fuel. Fuel costs RM2.80 per litre in town, but in remote areas we have to pay about RM4 per litre.

“Not all households have motorcycles. They have to rent a motorcycle at RM50 per day just to go to town. The ride to Gua Musang town from Kampung Jadeh, for example, takes between three and four hours one way. If it rains it can take about 10 hours.

“The price of goods has also gone up. We have to spend between RM400 and RM600 a month on groceries and fuel, as we have to make two trips a month to resupply.

“Where can we find that much money when our source of income is destroyed along with the jungles?” he said.

Mustafa said they could only earn about RM200 to RM400 a month from tapping rubber.

“But income from rubber would be reduced further during the rainy season, ” he said.