Award-winning conservationist unites Bornean elephants and humans

Free Malaysia Today

27-05-2025

Nurzhafarina Othman is one of six conservationists worldwide to receive the 2025 Whitley Award. (Bernama pic)
KOTA KINABALU : Deep in the lush forests of Borneo lies a story not just about conflict, but about the coexistence of humans and elephants learning to share the same land.
Malaysian elephant conservationist Nurzhafarina Othman said one could spend a lifetime studying the Bornean elephant ('Elephas maximus borneensis'), and yet still miss half the story if one doesn't also listen to the humans who live alongside them.
According to the 2025 Whitley Award recipient, protecting Bornean elephants requires balance, and success lies not only in understanding the science of conservation but also in connecting with the hearts of local communities who have long hosted these gentle giants.
'We can't focus only on the elephants,' she said. 'They're actually easier to learn about: they don't change their minds easily, so they're easier to understand.
'Humans, on the other hand, can be supportive one day and change the next. But they're not just bystanders, they're key players … so, we're trying to balance both approaches to ensure we achieve meaningful conservation.'
Nurzhafarina, a senior lecturer at the Tropical Biology and Conservation Institute at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), was recently honoured with the UK award also known as the 'Green Oscar', presented by the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN).
The prize, which recognises her efforts in protecting the Bornean elephant, comes with a £50,000 grant (about RM287,000), and was presented by WFN patron Princess Anne at the Royal Geographical Society in London on April 30.
'This award comes with great responsibility,' she told Bernama. 'I am grateful to the Whitley platform because it opens up more opportunities for me to share the story of the Bornean elephants. It also gives confidence to everyone working in the field that we are truly on the right path.'
The Whitley Fund for Nature supports Nurzhafarina's efforts to save the remaining 250 or so Bornean elephants on the east coast of Sabah. (Bernama pics)
Asked by FMT Lifestyle if she had any thoughts on the recent case involving a young elephant that died in a collision on the East-West Highway, she replied: 'I don't have much to say except that it is heartbreaking, and it's not the first case. In Sabah, we must do more to prevent roads from cutting through key wildlife areas.
'It doesn't matter who's behind the development: agencies must take responsibility and invest in real measures to protect elephants and other species.'
Hearts united to save elephants
Nurzhafarina highlighted that Bornean elephants are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List due to their small and declining population.
The founder and director of Seratu Aatai, a non-profit organisation whose name means 'united hearts', estimates that only around 250 of them remain in Sabah. According to the IUCN, Bornean elephants have lost 60% of their forest habitat in the past four decades owing to logging and palm-oil cultivation.
In working with communities affected by elephant-related issues, Nurzhafarina's team found that many locals are unsure what to do when elephants enter their areas.
'These people's crops, like oil palm, are their main source of income. When fear sets in, we need to stand with them, help them understand, and work together to find solutions,' Nurzhafarina explained.
Seratu Aatai plays a vital role in bringing together all stakeholders and nurturing a more positive outlook by shifting how people perceive elephants. Nurzhafarina's goal is to help communities accept that elephants 'belong to everyone' and are part of their shared environment.
'We often hear about human-elephant conflict, and we want to change the way people see that issue. Awareness does not instantly lead to action. We need to walk alongside them, learning together what works and what doesn't.
'We try to be the bridge between voices that often go unheard and those with more resources, like government agencies or global organisations such as WFN. Together, we run programmes with communities to understand elephant behaviour, track their movements, and guide them to safer areas.'
Nurzhafarina stressed that solutions must be holistic – it's not simply a matter of relocating the elephants elsewhere. 'We don't want an 'as long as it's not in my backyard' mindset. Instead, everyone should tackle this as a shared responsibility.'
The skeleton of a Bornean elephant that died in Kinabatangan on display at UMS's Tropical Biology and Conservation Institute. (Bernama pic)
According to her, one of the biggest challenges faced by communities is lack of resources.
Many affected villagers are smallholders surrounded by large oil-palm estates that can afford infrastructure like electric fencing or drainage systems. But elephants are more likely to enter small farms, making it essential for big industry players, especially owners of large plantations, to share responsibility in addressing the problem.
'Communities must also be given the tools and support to implement effective protection strategies. Unfortunately, most of them just can't afford to do that on their own,' she pointed out.
Previous studies by her team show that the people of Sabah understand the root causes of this conflict and genuinely value elephants. But their biggest concern remains the issue of elephants entering their living areas.
Nurzhafarina, who is among six conservationists worldwide to receive the 2025 Whitley Award, said the situation calls for a more comprehensive approach.
'We need to help communities understand that elephant habitats are shrinking. The solution requires collaboration from everyone … we need to work on a larger scale, beyond isolated efforts.'
Still, she acknowledges that bringing all stakeholders together with a shared vision remains a challenge – one that will require ongoing cooperation, trust and empathy.