Elephants do not move according to administrative boundaries or project lines. They follow familiar routes through forests in search of food, water and natural mineral sources, often travelling across large areas as part of their natural behaviour. When landscapes change, these established routes and feeding grounds may be affected. Elephants can be driven to search for alternative pathways and food sources, increasing the likelihood of them moving closer to villages, farms, roads and other infrastructure.

At Nenggiri in Gua Musang, Kelantan, this understanding is shaping a proactive biodiversity initiative to restore habitat connectivity, support elephant movement and reduce the risk of human-elephant conflict.

Responding to a Changing Landscape

The development of the Nenggiri Hydroelectric Project will contribute to Malaysia's future energy needs while transforming the surrounding landscape as the reservoir is formed.

More than 5,300 hectares of existing elephant habitat are expected to be affected following reservoir impoundment. As natural feeding areas change, elephant movement patterns may also shift, prompting the animals to search for new routes and food sources.

TNB Research estimates that up to 100 elephants from three sub-populations may use areas within the future reservoir landscape. The challenge is therefore not simply to keep elephants away from developed areas, but to provide a suitable pathway that supports their natural movement while directing them away from settlements and critical infrastructure.

Through Program Warisan Rimba 2026: Inisiatif Pemuliharaan Koridor Hidupan Liar @ Nenggiri, a managed wildlife corridor is being developed along the future reservoir landscape to reconnect habitats, restore food availability and support safer coexistence between elephants and people.

Strengthening TNB's Approach to Biodiversity

The initiative forms part of Project BEAVER, undertaken by TNB to operationalise its Biodiversity Framework, strengthen biodiversity integration across its operations, and support the development of its Biodiversity Risk Management Process and Biodiversity Roadmap.

This broader framework helps TNB identify biodiversity risks and impacts, incorporate biodiversity considerations into business and project planning, and implement Biodiversity Action Plans that are tailored to local ecological conditions.

Within this broader effort, the Nenggiri corridor demonstrates how biodiversity risk management can be translated into practical action on the ground. Its objectives include strengthening habitat connectivity through the planting of natural food sources, reducing the risk of wildlife entering areas used by communities or operations, and building greater awareness of human-wildlife conflict management.

A Shared Conservation Effort

Managing a landscape used by elephants requires expertise that extends beyond tree planting.

The initiative brings together TNB, government agencies, universities, conservation organisations and local communities in a coordinated approach to habitat restoration and human-wildlife conflict management.

Within TNB, the programme reflects a collective effort that brings together relevant expertise in sustainability, biodiversity research, power generation, project implementation and site operations. Presenting these capabilities as one TNB reflects the shared responsibility across the organisation in supporting the development and long-term management of the wildlife corridor.

The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) Peninsular Malaysia contributes wildlife management expertise through field investigations, conflict response measures, patrols and elephant collaring operations. The Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) and surrounding Orang Asli communities, including those closest to Pos Pulat and Pos Tohoi, provide important perspectives from the communities living nearest to the landscape.

The programme also brings together academic partners from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), alongside strategic organisations including Malaysia Forest Fund (MFF) and NGOs such as The Habitat Foundation, Pertubuhan Temok Genihing and Penjaga Gunung. Together, these stakeholders contribute research, conservation knowledge, community perspectives and experience in habitat protection and restoration.

In total, the programme brought together 67 participants and invitees from the participating stakeholder groups, reflecting the broad collaboration required to address a complex issue such as human-elephant conflict.

Creating Pathways, Not Barriers

A wildlife corridor is more than simply a planted land. It is a connected and specially managed habitat that enables animals to move between forested areas without having to pass through settlements, farms or critical infrastructure.

At Nenggiri, the proposed corridor follows areas where elephants are expected to move after reservoir impoundment. It is designed to remain connected to surrounding forest habitats while avoiding Orang Asli settlements and other areas where encounters could create risks for people and wildlife.

The location was selected using information on elephant movement, natural pathways, reservoir water levels, existing forest cover and narrow crossing points (roughly 150 to 200 metres across) where elephants are likely to move.

This data-driven approach allows biodiversity considerations to be incorporated into the wider planning of the Nenggiri landscape. Rather than simply pushing elephants away from one area, the initiative seeks to guide them towards safer and more suitable habitat.

Planting a Natural Food Bank

Food availability is central to the corridor's design.

Elephants require large quantities of vegetation each day. When established feeding grounds disappear or become less accessible, they may enter plantations, farms or settlements in search of alternatives.

The Nenggiri corridor is therefore being developed as a natural food bank that provides forage as elephants adjust to the changing landscape. It is not intended to become a permanent artificial feeding site or create dependence on human intervention.

Napier grass forms an important part of the planting mix because it is fast-growing, produces a high yield and can provide bulk forage. It is complemented by existing forest vegetation and a range of natural forage and fruiting species that contribute to a more varied diet and strengthen the ecological quality of the corridor.

Other species being planted alongside Napier grass include nangka, cempedak, sukun, manggis, petai, ketapi, mentiga, perian, tajam belat, kepayan, perah, jentik, kasai, kundang, keranji and keladan.

The collaborative planting programme initially covered a five-acre area with approximately 2,250 kilogrammes of Napier grass and around 500 tree saplings. Following wider planting activities across the corridor, the cumulative total reached 1,613 trees planted across eight acres, together with 2,369 kilogrammes of Napier grass.

The planting is intended to do more than provide food. By combining forage species, trees and existing vegetation, the corridor can gradually develop into a healthier and more connected habitat that also supports wider biodiversity.

Designed to Recover Naturally

The overall wildlife corridor is planned to cover approximately 400 acres, with a corridor width of around 40 metres, and will be developed in two phases.

Its design includes 24 managed grazing plots, comprising eight plots for each of the three identified elephant sub-populations. Each plot will cover approximately 6.75 hectares.

Rather than allowing elephants to repeatedly feed within the same area, the plots are intended to operate on a rotational basis. Previously grazed areas can be rested for approximately six to eight weeks, giving the Napier grass and other vegetation time to recover before they are used again.

This cycle of grazing, resting and recovery is intended to maintain food availability without degrading the planted areas. It also supports more natural feeding and movement behaviour instead of concentrating elephants permanently in one location.

Understanding How Elephants Move

Planting alone cannot resolve human-elephant conflict. Continued monitoring is needed to understand how elephants respond as the reservoir and surrounding landscape change.

PERHILITAN and TNB have carried out wildlife patrols, investigations following reported sightings, and engagement activities in areas including Pos Pulat, Pos Tohoi, project access roads, schools and water sources. Between late 2022 and early 2026 alone, 26 patrol and enforcement programmes were recorded.

Elephant collaring operations provide another layer of information. A female elephant named Mek Tohoi was fitted with a satellite collar near Pos Tohoi in March 2024, followed by Mek Betis near Kuala Betis in May 2025, and Mek Pulat near Pos Pulat in January 2026.

The collars allow elephant movements to be tracked over time, helping the teams identify commonly used routes and better understand how different herds use the surrounding landscape. This information can be used to refine the corridor and strengthen early response measures when elephants move closer to inhabited areas.

Community engagement and other practical mitigation measures remain equally important. These include improving visibility around frequently used areas, installing suitable deterrent systems, strengthening water facilities and helping communities understand how to respond safely when elephants are nearby.

Benefits for Wildlife and Communities

For elephants, the corridor can provide safer movement routes, improved access to food and continued connectivity between forest habitats. This can reduce habitat fragmentation and support healthier wildlife populations over the longer term.

For nearby communities, guiding elephants away from settlements and farmland can help lower risks to people, property, crops and livelihoods. The provision of buffer areas and natural food sources within the corridor is intended to reduce the possibility of elephants entering areas used by communities or project operations.

For TNB, the corridor demonstrates how biodiversity considerations can be integrated into infrastructure planning and long-term project management. It also supports a more responsible approach to managing the ecological changes associated with reservoir impoundment.

The expected benefits are therefore shared: safer movement and improved habitat for wildlife, lower conflict risks for communities and stronger biodiversity management for TNB.

Growing a Safer Future

Tree planting is often measured by the number of seedlings placed in the ground. At Nenggiri, tree planting serves a broader purpose.

Each tree, grass plot and connected pathway contributes to a larger effort to restore habitat, guide elephant movement and give wildlife sufficient space and food without bringing the animals unnecessarily close to people.

The corridor will take time to mature, and its effectiveness will depend on continued maintenance, monitoring and collaboration between TNB and its stakeholders, including government agencies, universities, conservation organisations and surrounding communities.

By combining habitat restoration with scientific research, wildlife monitoring and local knowledge, TNB and its partners are working towards a landscape where energy development, communities and wildlife can coexist more safely.

Nenggiri wildlife corridor at a glance

Back to ESG Stories