Pada 18 hingga 21 Februari 2025, operasi pemasangan kolar satelit gajah telah dijalankan di Brumas, Tawau, Sabah, sebagai sebahagian daripada Projek Penanaman Rumput Napier bagi Koridor Hidupan Liar, untuk meningkatkan kelestarian makanan dan pemuliharaan biodiversiti gajah liar. Operasi ini melibatkan kerjasama pelbagai agensi termasuk MPOGCF, Jabatan Hidupan Liar Sabah (JHL), Sabah Softwoods Berhad (SSB), dan Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU).
Pada hari pertama, pasukan berbincang mengenai status kehadiran gajah di kawasan estet Brumas, dengan maklumat yang diberikan oleh pekerja estet dan Unit Pemantau Hidupan Liar (SSB) di lapangan. Pemangku Ketua Bahagian Perkayuan dan Kelestarian SSB, Mohd Haffizul Samutu memberi penerangan serba sedikit berkenaan projek penyelidikan dan kaedah yang digunakan. Manakala, Pakar Gajah, Jibius Dausip selaku ketua operasi pemasangan kolar gajah menerangkan butiran operasi lapangan dan langkah-langkah keselamatan yang perlu diambil perhatian di sepanjang operasi berjalan. Walaupun percubaan untuk memasang kolar pada hari pertama gagal, usaha diteruskan pada hari berikutnya.
Pada 20 Februari, dua ekor gajah dewasa betina berjaya dipasang dengan kolar satelit. Gajah dewasa betina pertama setinggi 6 kaki 9 inci berjaya dipasang kolar pada sebelah pagi, manakala gajah dewasa betina kedua setinggi 6 kaki 10 inci berjaya dipasang kolar pada sebelah malam. Rawatan kecemasan turut diberikan kepada anak gajah dewasa betina pertama berikutan terdapat kecederaan pada kaki akibat kesan jerat lama. Selain pemasangan kolar, sampel darah dan ekor gajah diambil untuk analisis makmal, dan ukuran tubuh gajah turut dicatatkan untuk rekod penyelidikan.
Kos pembelian dua unit kolar satelit ini berjumlah RM30,000 yang bertujuan untuk memantau pergerakan gajah-gajah liar dan memahami tabiat pemakanan gajah terhadap rumput Napier yang ditanam di koridor hidupan liar estet Brumas untuk projek ini.
Sepanjang operasi berjalan, turut hadir ialah Ekeskutif Konservasi & Kemampanan MPOGCF, Daniel Pamin, Pakar Gajah (Sabah) Jibius Dausip, Pegawai Veterinar, Pusat Pemuliharaan Orang Utan Sepilok, Sandakan, Dr. Nabila Sarkawi, kakitangan veterinar Pusat Pemuliharaan Orang Utan Sepilok, kakitangan Jabatan Hidupan Liar Tawau, Ranger Komuniti JHL Tawau, Pemangku Ketua Bahagian Perkayuan dan Kelestarian SSB, Mohd Haffizul Samutu, kakitangan konservasi SSB, Unit Keselamatan Estet Brumas, dan kakitangan Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU).
Kerjasama dan komitmen semua pihak yang terlibat telah memastikan operasi ini berjaya dilaksanakan dengan lancar, dan data satelit yang diperoleh akan membantu dalam usaha pemuliharaan dan pengurusan populasi gajah liar di Sabah.
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𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 – 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭
From 18th to 21st February 2025, the operation of installing satellite collars on elephants was conducted in Brumas, Tawau, Sabah, as part of the Napier Grass Planting Project for the Wildlife Corridor, aimed at enhancing food sustainability and preserving the biodiversity of wild elephants. This operation involved the collaboration of several agencies, including MPOGCF, Sabah Wildlife Department (JHL), Sabah Softwoods Berhad (SSB), and the Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU).
On the first day, the team discussed the status of elephant presence in the Brumas estate area, based on information provided by estate workers and Wildlife Monitoring Unit (SSB). Acting Head of Tree Plantations Department, Mohd Haffizul Samutu gave a brief explanation about the research project and the methods used. Meanwhile, Jibius Dausip, leader of the elephant collaring operation, explained the details of the field operation and the safety measures to be observed throughout the operation. Although the attempt to install the collar was unsuccessful on the first day, efforts continued the following day.
On 20th February, two adult female elephants successfully had satellite collars installed. The first adult female elephant, measuring 6 feet 9 inches in height, had the collar installed in the morning, while the second adult female, measuring 6 feet 10 inches, had the collar installed in the late evening. Emergency treatment was also executed to a female calf due to an injury on its leg caused by an old snare trap. In addition to collaring, blood and tail samples were taken for laboratory analysis, and the elephant’s body measurements were recorded for research documentation.
The cost of purchasing two units of satellite collars amounted to RM30,000, with the aim of monitoring the movement of wild elephants and understanding the elephants’ feeding habits towards the Napier grass planted in the Brumas estate wildlife corridor for this project.
Throughout the operation, the following individuals were present: Conservation & Sustainability Executive of MPOGCF, Daniel Pamin; Elephant Specialist (Sabah), Jibius Dausip; Veterinarian from the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sandakan, Dr. Nabila Sarkawi; veterinary staff from the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre; staff from the Tawau Wildlife Department; SWD Tawau Community Rangers; Acting Head of the Forestry and Sustainability Division of SSB, Mohd Haffizul Samutu; conservation staff from SSB; Brumas Estate Security Unit staff; and staff from the Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU).
The collaboration and commitment of all parties involved ensured that this operation was successfully carried out smoothly, and the satellite data obtained will assist in the conservation efforts and management of the elephant population in Sabah.
