KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Wildlife Department received three Daihatsu Hijet mini trucks donated by Asahiyama Zoo and Borneo Conservation Trust Fund Japan to help ease the job of delivering food for the animals.
State Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Kamarlin Ombil said each truck would be stationed at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park here, the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary in Lower Kinabatangan and the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation centre in Sandakan.
“Asahiyama Zoo director Dr Gen Bandoh managed to acquire donations from the Daihatsu Motor Company Ltd to get the vehicles after he explained the conflict between humans and elephants at the said parks and centre in Sabah.
“I would like to appeal to potential donors from non-governmental organisations to emulate deed of the Asahiyama Zoo, Borneo Conservation Trust and Daihatsu through their respective CSR programs by contributing towards the conservation of threatened wildlife species,” he said during the handover ceremony at the Lok Kawi wildlife park this morning.
Kamarlin said the conflicts between humans and wildlife, which occur due to forest-clearing for farming activities, had resulted in loss of habitat which has led to a decrease in food source for elephants and other wildlife.
The government, through the Sabah Wildlife Department, has intensified efforts in wildlife conservation through the formulation and implementation of five-year action plans for most endangered animals in the state, including rhinoceros, orangutans and elephants.