Ministry views brutal killing of pygmy elephant as serious offence

The Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry viewed the brutal killing of a pygmy elephant in Sungai Udin, Tawau, last Thursday, as a serious offence.

The ministry, in cooperation with the police, would assist the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) in tracking down the poachers as this incident involved the use of firearms.

“The SWD’s cooperation with the police will be further strengthened in the future by adopting the model of joint action force between the police and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) and other enforcement agencies to prevent this crime from recurring in the future,” the ministry said in a statement.

The pygmy elephants (Bornean Pygmy Elephant) are fully protected species under Schedule 1 of the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 and those involved could be prosecuted, it said.

Last Thursday, a group of anglers found the carcass of the pygmy elephant in Sungai Udin, Dumpas in Kalabakan, near Tawau, believed to have been dead for three to four days.

The female elephant estimated to be between 11 and 12 years old, with a height of 1.8 metres was found slumped near a river bank.

An initial inspection by an SWD team found gunshot wounds on the animal’s cheeks, head, body and back. 

Those with information on the incident can contact the SWD to assist in investigations.

- Bernama