Deadly poachers still at large in Sabah

Two more pygmy elephants found dead

KOTA KINABALU: Two more Borneo pygmy elephants have been found dead in Sabah’s east coast as the poaching threat continues unabated into the new year.

An adult cow was found dead near a plantation area at Sukau close to the high conservation area of Kinabatangan, while another was found near a state-owned plantation area in Tawau.

Both the elephants were found in decomposing condition by the workers on Monday.

Sabah Wildlife Department and police were informed of the two discoveries.

The cause of the deaths of the two elephants could not be immediately established though some suspect that they could be victims of poaching or poisoning.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said yesterday that the post-mortem has yet to be done.

Tuuga, however, declined further comment on the matter.

The two deaths, according to a conservationist who declined to be named, comes after five elephant deaths were reported between December and January this year.

At least two of the elephants were believed to have been shot by poachers while the others could have been poisoned or succumbed to natural causes in the incidents in Kinabatangan, Tawau and Lahad Datu.

Last year Sabah saw some 27 elephants deaths related to poisoning, poaching and natural causes as the state government put together an action plan to work with plantations and villagers to help mitigate the problems of human-elephant conflict.

WWF Malaysia and other conservation groups have also been involved in mitigating the problems faced by the critically endangered Borneo Pygmy elephants.

There is an estimated 1,500 to 2,500 elephants left in the wild and shrinking forest habitats are further putting pressure on the elephants and other wildlife in Sabah’s east coast forests.