Olivia Miwil New Straits Times 2 Sep 18;
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah recorded its 26th elephant death for this year as a juvenile male succumbed to snare trap injuries while undergoing treatment at Borneon Elephant Sanctuary in Kinabatangan this morning.
State Wildlife Department spokesman Siti Nur’ain Ampuan Acheh said the juvenile male elephant, aged about 5, was rescued at Ulu Segama Forest Reserve in Lahad Datu on Tuesday.
“A team consisted of a veterinarian and wildlife rangers was dispatched to the location to rescue the injured elephant.
“They managed to capture the elephant and initiated treatment,” she said in a statement, adding the elephant was weak and had suffered a severe and deep wound which already reached the bone of left front leg.
She added further treatment was supposed to be done at the sanctuary but it did not respond well to the treatment and died at 8.40am this morning.
“Post mortem was conducted to determine the cause of death.
“Findings revealed that the elephant died due to septicemia which originated from the severe snare trap injury.”
On Thursday, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had ordered the state Tourism, Culture, Environment Minister Christina Liew and Agriculture and Food Industry Junz Wong to hold special meetings with plantation owners on the issue.
The initiative is to engage plantation workers to help with the fight against poaching and killing in their areas.
Liew had said a special unit will be formed when experts from the United States arrive to address elephants poaching and killing issues in Sabah.
Rescued jumbo dies of injuries caused by snare trap
natasha joibi The Star 2 Sep 18;
KOTA KINABALU: A juvenile male Bornean pygmy elephant has died a week after he was found with an injury on his front left leg caused by a snare trap at Ulu Segama Forest Reserve, Lahad Datu.
Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) public relations officer Siti Nur'Ain Ampuan Acheh said the five-year-old pachyderm died on the way to the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary in Kinabatangan at about 8.40am on Sunday (Sept 2).
Siti Nur'Ain said the elephant was rescued on Aug 26 after it was found with an injury on its leg caused by the trapping device.
She added that a team comprising a veterinarian and wildlife rangers was dispatched to the location to rescue the injured animal.
"They managed to capture the elephant and initiated treatment. He suffered a severe and deep wound which had already reached the bone.
"The elephant was also in poor physical condition and weak," she said.
Siti Nur'Ain said the animal did not respond well to the treatment and died while being transported to the sanctuary for further treatment.
"Post-mortem was conducted to determine the cause of death.
"Findings revealed that the elephant died due to septicaemia which originated from the severe snare trap injury," she explained.
SWD is investigating the manager of the adjoining plantation.
The latest death brings to 26 the number of elephants killed this year.
