Seven elephant deaths reported in Sabah since October 2016

KOTA KINABALU: WWFMalaysia is appalled by the latest reported elephant death in Tawau.

The gruesome death of a male elephant at Ladang Cenderamata of Sabah Softwoods Berhad in Tawau is both shocking and infuriating, as this was the seventh reported death of the totally protected species within the last 14 months.

“It's as if its legal status is merely an accessory and not to be taken seriously. It goes without saying that a crime this severe demands a thorough investigation and the arrest of the culprits involved so that they can be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said Dato' Dr Dionysius Sharma, the Executive Director/CEO of WWF-Malaysia.

WWF-Malaysia commends the plantation where the carcass was discovered for reporting the death immediately to the authorities. However, Dr Dionysius said it is high time for plantations where Sabah's elephants roam to be more vigilant in preventing such deaths. Whether they are killed by poachers, or victims of a heated confrontation with humans, the fact remains the same: our elephants are being murdered almost every month since October 2016.

For an endangered species that only numbers less than 2,000 as estimated back in 2010 and is mostly found in Sabah, this crime is beyond worrying, he said.

“This elephant murder is a crime against Malaysians as Borneo elephants are our green heritage and should be protected. If we choose to remain silent, it sends a strong signal to the elephant killers that we are supporting the coldblooded murder of elephants,” he added.

The Bornean pygmy elephant carcass with three gunshot wounds was found by workers of the Cenderamata Plantation on Tuesday. The bull elephant was believed to have been shot by poachers.

Sabah Wildlife director Augustine Tuuga said the tusk was still intact and post-mortem result found three bullets on the carcass. The elephant could have been shot elsewhere and fled.