BERNAMA New Straits Times 20 Nov 16;
TAWAU: An Indonesian man was trampled to death by an elephant in Dumpas timber plantation area near here, earlier today.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Fadil Marsus who confirmed the incident said the victim, a 48-year employee at the plantation died of head injuries after being trampled by a wild elephant.
“A distress call was received around 3.22pm to inform us that there was a victim who had died after an elephant attacked him at the Dumpas timber plantations near the border of Bombalai towards Kalabakan,” he told Bernama.
According to him, the victim was taken to the Tawau Hospital.
This is the second incident of an elephant attacking civilians this month.
On Nov 9, around 6.15am an Indonesian couple were attacked by a wild elephant that suddenly went raging into the timber plantation in Brumas area near Tawau.
Both victims, both plantation workers known as Santoko Satria, 44 who suffered minor injuries and his wife Susi Sudirman, 36, who sustained serious bodily and face injuries after being attacked by the elephant.
Since the incident, workers at the timber plantation were worried and cautious about their safety due to threats posed by wild elephants even when they are not provoked. --BERNAMA
Possible culling for bull elephant that killed man in Tawau
RUBEN SARIO The Star 20 Nov 16;
KOTA KINABALU: The elephant that killed an Indonesian plantation worker in the east coast Tawau district may be culled, says Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga.
He said its rangers were now tracking down the animal, and would observe it before deciding on the next course of action.
The bull elephant, said Augustine, was part of a herd of 30 animals roaming within in the Kalabakan area.
"We will observe the elephant and assess if it is a habitual offender and could harm humans again.
"This is a protected animal. So, we have to be careful what we do," he said, adding that the department's options were limited.
Augustine added that the animal was likely to have been in musth during the attack.
Musth is a state or condition of violent, destructive frenzy occurring with the rutting season in male elephants.
The 48-year-old worker was reportedly trampled to death by the bull elephant at the Dumpas timber plantation at Kalabakan on Saturday afternoon.
On Nov 9, a couple was attacked by a wild elephant in Brumas.
Indonesian Susi Sudiman, 36, who was stomped on during the attack, suffered a serious spinal injury as well as rib fractures while her husband, 40-year-old Santoko Santra, was slightly hurt in the chest after being hit by the elephant's trunk.
The couple were having breakfast with five other workers at their work site during the attack.
Augustine said the elephant in the latest case was different from the one that attacked the couple.
Jumbo that killed Indonesian worker may be culled
The Star 21 Nov 16;
KOTA KINABALU: The elephant that killed an Indonesian plantation worker in the east coast Tawau district may be culled, said Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga.
He said rangers were now tracking down the animal and would be observing it before deciding on their next course of action.
“This is a protected animal. So, we have to be careful in whatever we do with it,” he said, adding that the department’s options were limited.
The bull elephant, said Augustine, was part of a herd of 30 animals roaming within the area in Kalabakan.
“We will observe the elephant and assess if it is a habitual offender and could harm humans again,” he said, adding that the animal was likely to have been in musth during the attack.
Musth is a state or condition of violent, destructive frenzy occurring with the rutting season in male elephants.
The 48-year-old worker was trampled to death by the elephant at the Dumpas timber plantation at Kalabakan on Saturday afternoon.
On Nov 9, a couple were attacked by a wild elephant in Brumas. Indonesian Susi Sudiman, 36, who was stomped on during the attack, suffered serious spinal injury as well as rib fractures while her husband, 40-year-old Santoko Santra, was slightly hurt in the chest after being hit by the elephant’s trunk.
The couple were having breakfast with five other workers at their work site when the attack occurred.
Augustine said the elephant in the latest case was different from the one that attacked the couple.
Bull elephant that killed man in Sabah culled
RUBEN SARIO The Star 21 Nov 16;
KOTA KINABALU: A bull elephant that killed a man at a timber plantation in the east coast Tawau district has been culled by Sabah Wildlife Department rangers.
Department director Augustine Tuuga said the male elephant was shot and killed late Sunday, a day after it trampled the Indonesian national to death on Nov 19.
He said the rangers had tracked down the bull elephant and determined that there was a likelihood of the animal attacking humans again.
"We did not want to take any chances with this bull as it had already killed a human," said Augustine.
"There was a real possibility that this bull elephant would attack again if it came across anyone in its path," he added.
He said the bull elephant had been in musth – a periodic state of heightened sexual activity and aggression in adult male pachyderms.
Musth is caused by a marked increase of testosterone in the animal, resulting in the bull elephant's very violent behaviour, Augustine explained.
"I have directed my officers in the east coast region to be on high alert to monitor the movements of the elephant herds within their ranges and evaluate the behaviour of other elephants in the herd as well," he added.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the decision to cull the bull elephant was a difficult one.
"We did it with great reluctance but human lives are paramount," he added.
