Brandy is a young ranger from Sabah, Borneo, who leads the group 7Team, one of the region’s main elephant conservation units. But he didn’t always love these animals. A traumatic childhood experience, combined with fear and a lack of knowledge, led him to grow up with a deep hatred toward them.
Today, it is estimated that fewer than 1,500 Bornean pygmy elephants remain on the island, a species found nowhere else in the world. One of the main causes of their decline is habitat loss due to deforestation and agricultural expansion, especially palm oil, which at the same time represents the primary source of income for many local families. As elephants lose their territory, they venture into crops in search of food, damaging plantations and triggering conflicts that often end with fatal consequences for both sides.
In this complex scenario, and in line with the Bornean Elephant Action Plan 2020–2029, Earthworm Foundation and Sabah Wildlife Department created the Human-Elephant Coexistence Committee (HEC), which works with farmers and organizations to reduce conflict, educate communities, and establish natural corridors that allow humans and elephants to coexist safely.
