The Star 19 Jun 10;
KOTA KINABALU: An endangered Borneo pygmy elephant lost its struggle for survival after being rescued two weeks ago.
The orphaned two-year-old female calf died after it suffered from severe internal bleeding at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park here on Wednesday.
“She had perforated ulcers in the intestines. It was a tough fight for survival,” Wildlife Department chief senior field veterinarian Dr Sen Nathan said yesterday.
On June 4, the wildlife rescue unit saved the highly dehydrated pygmy elephant from a moat at an oil palm plantation in Lahad Datu after the public alerted them to the animal in distress.
The calf, which had apparently been left abandoned for a few days before it was rescued, was brought to the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park here, but failed to respond to treatment.
It was among two young elephants rescued by wildlife personnel in the last four weeks.
In mid-May, wildlife personnel rescued a six-month-old female calf from Ladang Felcra/KTS, also in the Lahad Datu district.
Dr Nathan said the other rescued calf, which the department personnel had named Huminidon, was recovering well.
“`It is gaining weight,” he added.
Malaysia's rescued baby pygmy elephant dies
Yahoo News 20 Jun 10;
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – An endangered pygmy elephant calf that was rescued on Borneo island early this month has died, a minister said Sunday.
Masidi Manjun, eastern Sabah-state tourism, culture and environment minister said the two-year-old female calf died from severe internal bleeding.
On June 4, the wildlife rescue unit saved the highly dehydrated pygmy elephant from a moat at an oil palm estate. She was one of two calves found starving in Sabah.
"The lesson we learn from this tragedy is that the best place for the animal to survive is in its natural habitat and not in human captivation," Masidi said.
Pygmy elephants on Borneo form a sub-species of the Asian elephant. The creatures have a rounded appearance and are smaller than their mainland cousins.
Authorities say there are around 1,500-2,000 left on Borneo island.
Wildlife activists have warned that Borneo Pygmy elephants are fast losing their natural habitat to deforestation and human encroachment.
