Kuala Lumpur, 8 June 2024 – In observance of World Environment Day 2024, the Management and Ecology of Malaysian Elephants (MEME) conducted an awareness program featuring an exhibition, talk and the unveiling of MEME's proprietary boardgame 'Trunk Tales" alongside an innovative choose-your-own-adventure immersive theatre production titled “Why, How and When did the Elephant Cross the road?".
The occasion was honoured by the presence of esteemed representatives from Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD), University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM), affiliates and collaborators of the ACE coalition, as well as family and friends from the network. The event also attracted considerable public interest, with attendance exceeding fifty individuals.
The focal point of the celebration was the unveiling of MEME’s board game, ‘Trunk Tales’, which was launched by Dr Hjh Yatela Zainal Abidin, Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Sime Darby. "Trunk Tales” is an educational role-playing game designed by MEME to showcase the complexities of multi-stakeholder management of human-elephant conflicts to achieve coexistence. Players assume roles such as "Researcher," "Wildlife Department," "Village Head," "Plantation Owner," and "Government." Each player is tasked with steering through their distinct objectives, utilising strategic action cards to fulfil the goals associated with their assumed role, simulating the complexities of conservation efforts.”
“Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) had provided steadfast support to MEME since its inception in 2012, with a total sponsorship of almost RM9 million. This partnership is driven by a shared commitment to enhancing coexistence of humans and elephants, recognising the crucial role elephants play in maintaining the biodiversity that sustains forest ecosystems. We’re grateful for their support over the years, and look forward to continuing our shared mission in championing elephant and environmental conservation,” said Dr Wong Ee Phin, Principal Investigator of MEME.
YSD’s long term sponsorship had also significantly contributed to academic research, awarding scholarships to 7 PhD and 9 Master's students at the University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) . These efforts have bolstered the quality research and scientific data used inimplementingimpactful conservation strategies that engage a wide range of stakeholders, including the government, corporates, plantation estates, local communities, and the public.
“Significant strides have been made across the years towards understanding and mitigating human-elephant conflicts, with innovative actions implemented to promote sustainable coexistence. Our launch of the Trunk Tales board game marks another collaborative step in YSD’s commitment to educating and engaging communities about elephant conservation. We are proud to have supported MEME with the development of this educational tool that truly reflects our belief in the power of informed communities to effect positive change, specifically in the way the community views conservation and coexistence with wildlife,” said Dr Hjh Yatela Zainal Abidin, YSD Chief Executive Officer.