stephanie lee The Star 18 Aug 18;
KOTA KINABALU: An endangered Borneo pygmy elephant rescued from Sabah's east coast is recovering from the injury sustained when its foot was caught in a snare trap.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Christina Liew said the animal was responding well to preliminary treatment, but it had to be taken to the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary (BES) in Kinabatangan for better care.
Liew said wildlife rangers were having trouble approaching the elephant, which could become aggressive when afraid or stressed.
"So far, all looks good. The wound on its leg seems to be healing well," she said in a statement late Friday.
She said the elephant was being transferred to the BES on Saturday (Aug 18).
The male elephant, aged between seven to nine years, suffered an injury to its front right leg in the Taliwas area in Lahad Datu and was rescued by rangers late Tuesday (Aug 14).
The snare caused a two-inch deep wound on the leg, which was infested with maggots.
Pgymy elephants in Sabah continue to face threats from human activities such as development and poaching.
Numerous elephant deaths and injuries have been reported over the years.
This year alone, more than 10 elephants have been reported dead with dozens more injured, mostly due to snare traps and gunshots.
However, authorities are still unable to uncover the parties responsible as no one – including estate workers or villagers – seem to have witnessed anything.
Rescued Pygmy elephant succumbs to injuries from snare trap
natasha joibi The Star 20 Aug 18;
KOTA KINABALU: The Borneo Pygmy elephant rescued in Taliwas, Lahad Datu last week, has succumbed to his injuries a day after being translocated to the Borneon Elephant Sanctuary (BES) in Kinabatangan.
The young male elephant was expected to undergo further treatment at the sanctuary for an injury on his front right leg caused by a snare trap set by poachers.
Sabah Wildlife Department public relations officer Siti Nur'Ain Ampuan Acheh said the animal was found to be very weak and unable to stand up on Sunday (Aug 19), five days after being rescued by rangers on Tuesday (Aug 14).
"Despite hours of emergency treatment, he could not be saved and was confirmed dead at 3pm on the same day.
"A post-mortem has been conducted and the cause of death was multiple organ failure caused by septicaemia which resulted from the critically deep snare trap wound that was suspected to be more than five weeks old," she said.
The elephant was aged between seven and nine years old.
Since April this year, some 19 rescued jumbos, including the latest case, have died from various reasons including poachers' traps.
Siti Nur'Ain said four elephants died this year from injuries caused by snare traps in Sabah.
Pygmy elephant rescued from Lahad Datu snare trap dies
Kristy Inus New Straits Times 20 Aug 18;
KOTA KINABALU: A Borneo pygmy elephant which was rescued from a snare trap a week ago in Taliwas, Lahad Datu, died from injuries sustained from the illegal device just a day after being translocated to the Bornean Elephant Sanctuary (BES).
The male, estimated to have been between 7 and 9 years old, was scheduled to undergo further treatment for his wound at the BES, said Sabah Wildlife Department public relations officer Siti Nur’ain Ampuan Acheh.
It was earlier reported that the pachyderm was showing signs of improvement, and that its badly-infected snare trap wound was healing.
“The animal was found to be very weak on Sunday morning, having been unable to stand up.
“Despite hours of emergency treatment, the animal could not be saved and was confirmed dead at 3pm on the same day.
“A post-mortem has been conducted and the cause of death was multiple organ failure caused by septicaemia (blood poisoning) brought about by the deep snare trap wound which is (believed to have been) more than five weeks old,” Siti Nur’ain said in a statement.
