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.