TELUPID: SMK Telupid wants a concrete wall built around its 9.7ha-compound to deter elephant encroachment.
School principal Rukimin Sulit said the current barbed-wire fencing which covered the premise for about 50m had been damaged by a herd roaming in the area since early last month.
The New Straits Times Press recently reported that the threat had worsened when an elephant managed to make way into the school hostel’s dining hall recently.
“The elephants did not seem to pose a danger before. But now, the students’ safety is at risk,” Rukimin.
But this was not the school’s first rodeo with the herd.
Last year, some of the elephants tried to make their way into the school but fortunately did not get past the fences.
“The damaged fences were fixed at the end of last year. And now the elephants are at it again.
“Every time the herd is around, we call up the Wildlife Department to send a team here (to either monitor the situation or lure the elephants away).
“We have also briefed teachers and students on precautionary measures in case the herd makes its way back here.
Meanwhile, Beluran United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) Youth secretary Melton Martin, urged the government to make haste in setting up a wildlife office which specialises in mitigating chances of human-elephant conflict.
He said several locations had recorded spikes of incidents that saw property and agricultural losses in villagers.
“The new wildlife office can focus on incidents and find ways to keep the elephants away from encroaching into human territory.”