More awareness needed on elephants role played by NECC (Malaysia)

Author(s)

Wan Norlela Wan Sazali, New Straits Times

Date Published

See link for photo.

KUALA LUMPUR: Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad (Exim Bank) will take on the responsibility of educating members of the public as well as creating more awareness on the role played by the Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre (NECC).

This is in conjunction with World Elephant Day which falls this Saturday.

Due to increasing number of threats caused by human activities, development and industrial mono-crops, their natural habitat and migration routes have been fragmented. Elephants are titled as keystone species as they create and maintain the ecosystems, the loss of elephants will greatly affect the biodiversity of the environment and will cause major habitat chaos.

As part of Exim Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), environmental programme, information on the elephants, its characteristics, natural habitat and issues facing them will be advertised from 8 to 12 August.

The bank also has refurbished the NECC information centre, here, as well as producing 20,000 brochures in dual language on elephant’s.

In addition, Exim Bank has also sponsored a prostatic leg to Selendang, the disabled elephant.

The bank’s chairman Datuk Mat Noor Nawi urged members of the public, particularly locals to have more awareness and also a sense of love towards wildlife, especially elephants.

“I think the public still have little to no knowledge on elephants, hence why Exim Bank is here in an effort to enhance awareness about the elephants and efforts that NECC had been undertaking.

“This is not a one-time effort, it has to be a continuous effort, not just Exim Bank but also the public and I hope more big companies will also give a helping hand in the future,” he urged.

Mat Noor also said human and elephant conflict is serious issue but is manageable.

“Something must be done to encourage endorsement into wildlife reserved area, that is why we should raise awareness to the public on how to take care of the environment as well as keeping our boundaries,” he added.

NECC prioritises three main aspects which is to locate and relocate elephants from affected areas, to provide home for baby and disabled elephants and lastly to educate and raise awareness about elephants.

The public is encouraged to visit the Kuala Gandah NECC on World Elephant Day this Saturday as there will be various activities take place.

Entrance to the centre is free of charge and visiting hour is between 10am to 4pm.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2017/08/266330/more-awareness-needed-elephants-role-played-necc