The Star 12 Sep 10;
KOTA KINABALU: Wildlife rangers rescued two endangered Borneo Pygmy elephants which had wandered into a plantation area in the east coast of Tawau.
After tracking their movements through footprints for nearly a week, Sabah Wildlife Department rangers led by chief veterinarian Dr Sen Nathan spotted the jumbos near the Felda Umas plantation about 70km from Tawau town on the first day of Hari Raya.
The rangers managed to tranquillise the two male elephants and they are expected to be relocated by tomorrow.
“We are trying to find a suitable place. They will probably be sent to the Ulu Segama forest reserve area (near Lahad Datu) in the east coast,” Sabah Wildlife Department director Dr Laurentius Ambu said yesterday.
Dr Nathan said the elephants were believed to have strayed into a palm oil estate from the Burmas area in search of food and caused some damage to the plantation.
