Snare trap kills second elephant in a week in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Snare traps set in plantations in Lahad Datu took the life of another elephant – making it two deaths in less than a week in the Sabah east coast district.

Sabah Wildlife Department spokesperson Siti Nur Ain Ampuan Acheh said the district wildlife office was alerted by an oil palm plantation worker about 5pm yesterday about the dead male elephant.

“It was found in the Low Woo Thien oil palm plantation area in Ulu Segama, Lahad Datu.

“A team of rangers was immediately dispatched to the location to collect information on the elephant,” she said.

The team found a deep injury on one of the elephant’s feet, believed to have been inflicted by a snare trap, she said.

The elephant was nearly 2m tall and aged between four and five years.

Nur Ain said the cause of death was septicaemia resulting from the severe leg injury. The wound had caused the bone to become exposed.

Last Thursday, an injured elephant, rescued earlier from Sapagaya, Lahad Datu, on June 1, was found dead at the Bornean Elephant Sanctuary.

Sapa, an adult male, was rescued by wildlife officers after it was found with injuries, also believed to be from a snare trap.

Sapa had appeared to be on the way to recovery, with its injury almost healed, after being treated by the wildlife rescue unit’s veterinary officer.

However, the elephant was found lifeless on July 11 despite showing no symptoms of illness the previous day.


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