Malaysiam Sabah: Orang utan, elephant deaths

Busy week for Sabah Wildlife
Olivia Miwil New Straits Times 12 Jul 18;

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Wildlife department is facing a busy week having to deal with two dead animals and a lost baby elephant in the east coast of Sabah.

An adult male elephant named Sapa, who was injured by a snare trap in Lahad Datu and rescued on June 1, died at the Bornean Elephant Sanctuary in Kinabatangan yesterday although he had been active and showed healing symptoms.

On the same day, the department was alerted that an Orangutan carcass was found lying near the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve in Sandakan.

The department spokesperson Siti Nur’Ain Ampuan Acheh said Sapa died despite of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory treatment.

“(Sapa’s) death is due to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome due to septicemia which might be due to bacterial infection (from deep wound on its right forelimb).

“(As for the Orang Utan), personnel from the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre rushed to the scene upon receiving the report and found the carcass on the ground without any sign of infliction or physical injury,” she said in a statement.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday in Tawau, a weak baby elephant was found wandering alone at the Brumas Plantation in the district.

Siti said district wildlife personnel had secured and provided medical assistance to the three-week-old male calf.

“The baby elephant was taken to Tawau and given milk formula and fluids intravenously and transported to Sepilok this morning.

“It is bright and alert and receptive to drinking milk. Some small wounds were found in different parts of the body and are now being treated.”

As for the sighting of a turtle carcass at Jesselton Point terminal here yesterday, the department could not find the body which probably drifted elsewhere due to strong currents.


Bacterial infection likely cause of death of elephant in Sabah
stephanie lee The Star 13 Jul 18;

KOTA KINABALU: The elephant which died at the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary on Wednesday (July 11) might have died due to a bacterial infection.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said from the post mortem conducted on Thursday (July 12), it was found that the bull elephant named Sapa had multiple organ dysfunction.

"Sapa was rescued in June and he was found to have deep cut wounds on his legs due to snare traps," he said.

He said though Sapa had seemed to be recovering, the post-mortem findings did not support the theory.

Sapa had collapsed in the morning and was given treatment with fluids, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory medicine.

The 20-year-old elephant did not respond to the treatment and died at 4pm.


Bull elephant rescued from rope traps dies at Kinabatangan sanctuary in Sabah
stephanie lee The Star 12 Jul 18;

KOTA KINABALU: A rescued bull elephant has died at the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary in Kinabatangan on Wednesday (July 11).

The elephant named "Sapu" was a victim of snare traps when it was rescued from the Sapagaya Waterfall near the Danum Valley forest reserve on June 1.

Sapu was found with two rope snares bound tightly around its front legs with deep wounds. However, it had been recuperating and responding well to treatments.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said Sapu however collapsed in the morning and died at about 4pm without regaining consciousness.

“We will reveal the cause of death once we know,” Tuuga said when contacted.

Meanwhile, a wildlife conservationist based in Sabah said snare traps for wildlife are deadlier than bullets, as they are cheap, easy to get and silent.

“Almost anyone can get or make the traps,” said the conservationist who did not want to be named.

Though the poacher who set the traps may aim for other animals such as wild boars, larger creatures including elephants can still be victims and die a long, agonising death.


Orangutan found dead near forest reserve in Sandakan
stephanie lee The Star 13 Jul 18;

Carcass of an orang utan near the Sepilok Forest Reserve.

KOTA KINABALU: An Orangutan was found dead in an orchard near the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve in Sandakan on Wednesday (July 11).

Workers at a nearby resort found the carcass of the adolescent male primate and later informed wildlife officials.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said a team was sent to the scene.

"Our rangers found the carcass on the ground without any signs of injury," he said.

"A full post-mortem will be conducted to find out its cause of death," he said.