World Elephant Day Celebration 2024: Fostering Coexistence between Humans and Elephants in Johor for Future Generations

For the first time, two trained elephants from the Johor Elephant Sanctuary were brought to the event, allowing community members to interact closely with these magnificent animals. “I hope this experience nurtures a sense of care for wildlife, especially Asian elephants, which are often mistakenly blamed for crop damage despite their vital role in maintaining ecosystem balance,” said Mohd Saharuddin Bin Mohd Yunus.

Safiai Bin Mohammad, Chair of the HEC Committee of Sungai Ara, who has been farming since 1975 and has experienced numerous interactions with elephants, emphasised the need for the community to shift their perspective and mindset. “I used to see them as enemies, but now I understand that they are allies in our ecosystem.”

According to the Peninsular Malaysia Department of Wildlife and National Parks, negative interactions between humans and elephants from 2015 to 2020 resulted in estimated economic losses of RM 30 million (approximately USD 6.4 million), primarily due to crop damage. In 2019 alone, nearly 50% of these losses, amounting to RM 14 million (about USD 2.9 million), were recorded.