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Showing posts with label elephant death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elephant death. Show all posts
Saturday, August 04, 2018
Juvenile pygmy elephant found dead with wounds all over body
KOTA KINABALU: A juvenile male pygmy elephant was found dead near an abandoned logging camp outside the Kuamut Forest Reserve in east coast Kinabatangan district.
The elephant, believed to be between five and eight years old, was found dead with wounds on its body by estate workers on Thursday (July 19).
Sabah Wildlife Department public relation officer Siti Nur’Ain Ampuan Acheh said a team of investigators were sent to the scene after receiving the report.
“The elephant was found with a severe crack on the left side of its skull, believed to have resulted from fighting with a larger elephant,” she said in a statement Sunday.
Meanwhile, Siti said the other parts of the elephants body and ivory were intact.
She also thanked the estate workers from Rakyat Berjaya Sdn Bhd who alerted them about the elephant.
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https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/22/pygmy-elephant-found-dead/
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Wildlife deaths going on for years
SAHABAT Alam Malaysia (SAM) is shocked to learn of the deaths of six pygmy elephants, aged between 1 and 37, between April 6 and May 20. These deaths have been happening for years.
Elephants are not an exception because the killing of turtles and sharks made headlines in the previous year. This is reflective of the poor protection measures by the authorities.
That the slaughter is happening frequently can only mean that those entrusted with the task of protection are not doing enough.
Those responsible for the killings have not been charged, and the cause of death of the pygmy elephants and others has yet to be established.
Most killings end with unresolved investigations.
The deaths of these elephants have put a negative spotlight on Sabah.
Sadly, Malaysia is sacrificing its pygmy elephants, of which there are fewer than 2,000 in Borneo.
Every year, elephants are found either shot dead or poisoned in Sabah, though the public often hears nothing about it.
It is clear that the authorities have not done enough to prevent the death of pygmy elephants or to hold those responsible for the deaths.
Although an action plan has been developed for the conservation of the Bornean elephants, implementation has been seriously wanting.
But there is a glimmer of hope now that the government has changed hands.
SAM is delighted to learn of the actions of Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal in taking action to stop the deaths of Sabah’s wildlife.
To save our pygmy elephants — the world’s smallest known pachyderms — the forest of Sabah must be restored.
At the very least, wildlife corridors must be created to allow elephants to move from one fragmented patch of forest to another, preventing them from becoming trapped in a forest island.
Other measures include creating more national parks.
SAM calls on the government and the wildlife authorities to prevent more deaths of Sabah’s wildlife.
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https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters/2018/06/378376/wildlife-deaths-going-years
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Stop sacrificing our pygmies for palm oil
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is shocked to learn of the death of six more pygmy elephants, deaths which have been happening ad nauseam for several years now.
Elephants are not an exception because the carnage to turtles and sharks has been making headlines in the previous year, which is reflective of poor government protection. That the slaughter is happening frequently can only mean that those entrusted with the task of protection are not doing enough.
So far those responsible for these kills have not been charged, and the cause of death of the pygmies and others have yet to be established. Most killings end with unresolved investigations.
Knowing how critically endangered the pygmy elephants are, the stakes for this species’ survival are too high for incidents of this sort to happen again. The same can be said for the many other animal species which are currently fighting to survive in Sabah which is plagued by palm oil production.
While the palm oil industry’s crippling blow to the orangutan species is monumental, the industry has the blood of other species on their hands as well.
The news of the deaths of these elephants has put a huge negative spotlight on Sabah. Sadly Malaysia is sacrificing its elephants for palm oil.
Recognising the high demand and huge profits that are associated with palm oil, the industry has stopped at nothing to produce as much of this commodity as possible. With the expansion of deforestation and the proliferation of palm oil plantations, elephants are finding it difficult to find food and thus are forced to feed on the fruits of the palm oil plant.
To read the full article, click on the story title.
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Landowners in Sabah should be held liable if elephants die on their land proposes WWF Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/05/23/landowners-in-sabah-should-be-held-liable-if-elephants-die-on-their-land-proposes-wwf/#miAmxIgLgoVYiEbE.99
KOTA KINABALU: Landowners should be held accountable if an elephant dies on their land.
This is one proposal by WWF-Malaysia, in response to the alarming finding of six carcasses of Borneo elephants in eastern Sabah within six weeks.
The conservation NGO underlined that this proposal was actually first brought up by Sabah's Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, when an amendment to the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 was suggested.
This provision will reverse the burden of proof, which would no longer lie with the prosecutors.
“Industries and landowners need to be held more accountable for the death of elephants on their land. With more accountability, we believe that the industry players will be more inclined to take necessary measures to prevent elephant deaths as well as to conserve this iconic species,” stressed WWF-Malaysia Executive Director / CEO, Dato’ Dr Dionysius Sharma.
To read the full article, click on the story title
Sabah to engage consultant to study how best to handle human-elephant conflict
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew announced several short and long term measures to address the elephant situation and deaths in the state.
During the first meeting with the Ministry’s Head of Departments and perm…
To read the full article, click on the story title
No gunshot wounds found on dead elephant
KOTA KINABALU: The cause of death of an elephant found floating in the Kinabatangan River last weekened is not yet known.
However, following an autopsy that was done yesterday, Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said no gunshot wounds were found on the elephant, believed to be about three years old.
"A post-mortem was completed at 2pm (yesterday). But no wounds were found on its body and the elephant did not die from gunshot, infact no bullets were found in the elephant's body.
"We are still unable to ascertain the cause of death for now and we have taken samples of its internal organs for further analysis," he said when contacted.
When asked if the elephant could have been poisoned, Augustine said they would have to wait for results from the analysis.
Last week, a photo of the dead elephant, believed to have been found at a river near the Danau Girang Research Centre in Kinabatangan, along with two voicenotes went viral on WhatsApp.
Sabah Wildlife Department then confirmed they received a report on the discovery and sent in a team which included a veterinarian to the scene.
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https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/05/371556/no-gunshot-wounds-found-dead-elephant
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Injured elephant captured in Sabah oil palm plantation dies
Sabah Wildlife Director Augustine Tuuga said the elephant, estimated to be six or seven years of age, had shown signs of injury when it was captured by the Wildlife Department’s Rescue Unit.
He said the elephant was reported to have been aggressive towards plantation workers and villagers in surrounding areas, which led to its capture on Nov 24 at Desa Plantation, and was then taken to Borneo Elephant Sanctuary.
“While undergoing medical examination and treatment, its tongue was found to have serious wound, believed to have been caused by a gunshot.
“The wound on the tongue made the elephant unable to eat or drink,” he said in a statement here tonight.
Tuuga said a post mortem conducted on the elephant found a bullet lodged in the injured front left leg and there were also gunshot marks on the body, but did not penetrate or caused any internal organ injury.
“Dehydration is believed to be the cause of death because the elephant was unable to drink due to the injury on its tongue,” he said.
Tuuga said the Sabah Wildlife Department would be investigating the case as it involved the death of a totally protected species.
“While the Sabah Wildlife Department fully understand the problem faced by the people associated with elephant in their environment, we would really appreciate cooperation from all concerned by contacting the department’s nearest office for assistance to mitigate disturbance and property loss,” he said. — Bernama
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://malaysiaupdates.com/2017/12/08/injured-elephant-captured-in-sabah-oil-palm-plantation-dies-malaysia/
He said the elephant was reported to have been aggressive towards plantation workers and villagers in surrounding areas, which led to its capture on Nov 24 at Desa Plantation, and was then taken to Borneo Elephant Sanctuary.
“While undergoing medical examination and treatment, its tongue was found to have serious wound, believed to have been caused by a gunshot.
“The wound on the tongue made the elephant unable to eat or drink,” he said in a statement here tonight.
Tuuga said a post mortem conducted on the elephant found a bullet lodged in the injured front left leg and there were also gunshot marks on the body, but did not penetrate or caused any internal organ injury.
“Dehydration is believed to be the cause of death because the elephant was unable to drink due to the injury on its tongue,” he said.
Tuuga said the Sabah Wildlife Department would be investigating the case as it involved the death of a totally protected species.
“While the Sabah Wildlife Department fully understand the problem faced by the people associated with elephant in their environment, we would really appreciate cooperation from all concerned by contacting the department’s nearest office for assistance to mitigate disturbance and property loss,” he said. — Bernama
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://malaysiaupdates.com/2017/12/08/injured-elephant-captured-in-sabah-oil-palm-plantation-dies-malaysia/
200kg Malaysia-bound ivory intercepted at RGM Airport
At least 200 kilogrammes of ivory worth over half a million dollars was intercepted at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on Monday, while destined for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) confirmed the interception yesterday and said it is on high alert. The owner of the ivory, which was boxed, was still not known by yesterday. The interception of the loot followed a joint operation by parks and security agencies at the international airport.
ZimParks spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo confirmed the development in an interview with The Herald yesterday. Investigations to track down the criminals behind the attempted smuggling of the ivory were underway. The Herald is reliably informed that the net is fast closing on the suspects.
“The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority officers at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, working with other security agencies, on Monday intercepted 200kg of ivory destined for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,” said Mr Farawo.
“Efforts to get the owner are underway.” Mr Farawo said the case had since been handed over to the Zimbabwe Republic Police. “The matter has been handed over to the ZRP Border Control and Minerals Unit,” he said. “As parks, we are on high alert. We will not allow such illegal activities to happen and this is in line with President Mnangagwa’s policy of zero tolerance on corruption.
“We are excited that we are moving in line with the Head of State and Government. I can assure you, we will get to the bottom of this matter, as the net is closing in on the culprits.” The country has 84 000 elephants, which it considers too many, but is unable to sell ivory due to CITES restrictions. Poaching has seen a good number of elephants being killed through shooting or poisoning using cyanide.
A total of 893 jumbos were poached between 2013 and 2016. Out of this number, 249 elephants were killed through poisoning using cyanide or shooting.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://www.herald.co.zw/200kg-malaysia-bound-ivory-intercepted-at-rgm-airport/
ZimParks spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo confirmed the development in an interview with The Herald yesterday. Investigations to track down the criminals behind the attempted smuggling of the ivory were underway. The Herald is reliably informed that the net is fast closing on the suspects.
“The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority officers at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, working with other security agencies, on Monday intercepted 200kg of ivory destined for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,” said Mr Farawo.
“Efforts to get the owner are underway.” Mr Farawo said the case had since been handed over to the Zimbabwe Republic Police. “The matter has been handed over to the ZRP Border Control and Minerals Unit,” he said. “As parks, we are on high alert. We will not allow such illegal activities to happen and this is in line with President Mnangagwa’s policy of zero tolerance on corruption.
“We are excited that we are moving in line with the Head of State and Government. I can assure you, we will get to the bottom of this matter, as the net is closing in on the culprits.” The country has 84 000 elephants, which it considers too many, but is unable to sell ivory due to CITES restrictions. Poaching has seen a good number of elephants being killed through shooting or poisoning using cyanide.
A total of 893 jumbos were poached between 2013 and 2016. Out of this number, 249 elephants were killed through poisoning using cyanide or shooting.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://www.herald.co.zw/200kg-malaysia-bound-ivory-intercepted-at-rgm-airport/
Tuesday, January 09, 2018
Yet another endangered Borneo pygmy jumbo found dead in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: Another critically endangered Borneo pygmy elephant has been found dead even as conservationists call for informants and professional investigators to be engaged to stop the killing.
The elephant, the ninth slain in the last 14 months, was a healthy 12-year-old bull named Liningkung, that was fitted with a satellite collar 18 months ago.
It was found in the Ulu Segama Forest Reserve on Sabah’s east coast on Tuesday.
Rangers discovered its decomposed carcass with the tusks untouched.
Liningkung’s movements were being monitored by DGFC on a weekly basis, Goossens said, and they alerted Sabah Forestry officials on Dec 11 to say that it had not moved since Dec 3.
A team is in the area to carry out a post-mortem.
“It is another sad day for elephant conservation. If this goes on, we might be staring at its extinction,” Goossens said.
There are only about 1,500 elephants left in Sabah’s forests.
This is the third elephant found dead in the same area in the past year.
Goossens said it is vital for a special wildlife enforcement unit to be set up to go after wildlife poachers and traders as suggested by chief conservator of forests Datuk Sam Mannan.
Meanwhile, Marc Acrenaz, scientific director for Sabah-based wildlife research and conservation NGO Hutan, said informers and professional investigators are needed to stop the killing.
“Many years ago, locals killed these animals for food and it was not too serious.
“Now, we see that things have changed and people are poaching for the international trade or killing them because of animal-human conflicts,” he said.
No suspects have been identified in many of these cases, including a recent incident where a bull elephant was shot in the mouth and died of dehydration because it could not eat or drink.
“The authorities lack people on the ground,” Acrenaz said.
“We need a strong team which can identify the culprits and bring them to justice,” he said, adding that the killings might stop then.
For now, Acrenaz said, there are not enough rangers to cover all the places where animals – especially endangered species like the pygmy elephants, orang utan and pangolins – roam.
He said the three main reasons for poaching and killing were conflicts between landowners and animals (especially elephants), poaching of bush meat because of demand by tourists, and the international underground trade in exotic meat and animal parts like ivory and pangolin scales.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/12/14/yet-another-endangered-borneo-pygmy-jumbo-found-dead-in-sabah/
The elephant, the ninth slain in the last 14 months, was a healthy 12-year-old bull named Liningkung, that was fitted with a satellite collar 18 months ago.
It was found in the Ulu Segama Forest Reserve on Sabah’s east coast on Tuesday.
Rangers discovered its decomposed carcass with the tusks untouched.
Liningkung’s movements were being monitored by DGFC on a weekly basis, Goossens said, and they alerted Sabah Forestry officials on Dec 11 to say that it had not moved since Dec 3.
A team is in the area to carry out a post-mortem.
“It is another sad day for elephant conservation. If this goes on, we might be staring at its extinction,” Goossens said.
There are only about 1,500 elephants left in Sabah’s forests.
This is the third elephant found dead in the same area in the past year.
Goossens said it is vital for a special wildlife enforcement unit to be set up to go after wildlife poachers and traders as suggested by chief conservator of forests Datuk Sam Mannan.
Meanwhile, Marc Acrenaz, scientific director for Sabah-based wildlife research and conservation NGO Hutan, said informers and professional investigators are needed to stop the killing.
“Many years ago, locals killed these animals for food and it was not too serious.
“Now, we see that things have changed and people are poaching for the international trade or killing them because of animal-human conflicts,” he said.
No suspects have been identified in many of these cases, including a recent incident where a bull elephant was shot in the mouth and died of dehydration because it could not eat or drink.
“The authorities lack people on the ground,” Acrenaz said.
“We need a strong team which can identify the culprits and bring them to justice,” he said, adding that the killings might stop then.
For now, Acrenaz said, there are not enough rangers to cover all the places where animals – especially endangered species like the pygmy elephants, orang utan and pangolins – roam.
He said the three main reasons for poaching and killing were conflicts between landowners and animals (especially elephants), poaching of bush meat because of demand by tourists, and the international underground trade in exotic meat and animal parts like ivory and pangolin scales.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/12/14/yet-another-endangered-borneo-pygmy-jumbo-found-dead-in-sabah/
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Another Pygmy Elephant is Shot Dead
The wild pygmy elephant was found dead near a small river at an oil palm plantation in Tawau. The pachyderm’s remains were riddled with three bullets. It doesn’t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out what happened: the bull elephant had been killed either by plantation workers or local farmers in revenge for wading into crops or by poachers.
“The tusks are still there and we found gunshot wounds,” Augustine Tuuga, director of Sabah’s Wildlife Department, explained. “I believe it was done by poachers.”
This pygmy elephant is the seventh pachyderm that is known to have been killed in the past year, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature. In the past four months alone four pygmy elephants have been gunned down in Sabah. In August plantation workers discovered a female pygmy elephant suffering from several gunshot wounds at an oil palm plantation by the Malua Forest Reserve in Kinabatangan. She died of her injuries.
In early September, meanwhile, the remains of an elephant were found, without its tusks, at a plantation near Dumpas in Kalabakan. Soon thereafter, another pachyderm was discovered floating in the Kinabatangan river. It, too, had had its tusk sawn off by poachers.
The killings have alarmed conservationists and local wildlife officials. Pygmy elephants are increasingly beleaguered in Sabah. They are at risk of being killed by irate plantation workers for wading into crops; they are at risk of being poached for their ivory; and they are also at risk of being run over while crossing roads dissecting forests. Having lost much of their ancestral forests to oil palm cultivation and logging, these placid giants are now facing hardships and dangers across their range in Sabah.
“These animals belong to us all and are beneficial to us economically,” Masidi Manjun, Sabah’s minister of Culture, Tourism and Environment, has stressed, calling on locals to protect the state’s wild elephants.
Here’s hoping locals will heed such calls and set about saving the state’s pygmy elephants from any further harm.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://cleanmalaysia.com/2017/11/18/another-pygmy-elephant-shot-dead/
“The tusks are still there and we found gunshot wounds,” Augustine Tuuga, director of Sabah’s Wildlife Department, explained. “I believe it was done by poachers.”
This pygmy elephant is the seventh pachyderm that is known to have been killed in the past year, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature. In the past four months alone four pygmy elephants have been gunned down in Sabah. In August plantation workers discovered a female pygmy elephant suffering from several gunshot wounds at an oil palm plantation by the Malua Forest Reserve in Kinabatangan. She died of her injuries.
In early September, meanwhile, the remains of an elephant were found, without its tusks, at a plantation near Dumpas in Kalabakan. Soon thereafter, another pachyderm was discovered floating in the Kinabatangan river. It, too, had had its tusk sawn off by poachers.
The killings have alarmed conservationists and local wildlife officials. Pygmy elephants are increasingly beleaguered in Sabah. They are at risk of being killed by irate plantation workers for wading into crops; they are at risk of being poached for their ivory; and they are also at risk of being run over while crossing roads dissecting forests. Having lost much of their ancestral forests to oil palm cultivation and logging, these placid giants are now facing hardships and dangers across their range in Sabah.
“These animals belong to us all and are beneficial to us economically,” Masidi Manjun, Sabah’s minister of Culture, Tourism and Environment, has stressed, calling on locals to protect the state’s wild elephants.
Here’s hoping locals will heed such calls and set about saving the state’s pygmy elephants from any further harm.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://cleanmalaysia.com/2017/11/18/another-pygmy-elephant-shot-dead/
Sunday, October 01, 2017
No action against driver of bus which rammed into elephant
Police and the the Wildlife Department will not press charges against the driver of a bus which rammed into a 10-year-old male elephant, which died at Km60 Grik-Jeli road last month.
Grik district police chief Supt Ismail Che Isa said the accident was unintentional and there was no case to pursue.
“Elephants and other wild animals roam freely in the area and such incidents occur,” he added.
Perak Wildlife and National Parks principal assistant director Wan Shaharuddin Wan Noordin said: “There are no criminal elements, and the weather at the time of the incident has to be taken into account.
“Based on the driver’s statement, thick fog had limited the vision about one to five metres.
“The driver could not see the elephant when it crossed the road due to the blurred vision,” he told theSun today.
Wan Shaharuddin said post mortem report by a veterinarian revealed the animal died due to respiratory failure, blood loss, fluid accumulation in the lungs and a broken leg.
As for precautionary measures, he said a total of 10 signboards of wild animals crossing including elephants have been erected along the road.
“Apart from the warning signs the signboard also provide guidelines incase motorists run into animals.
“It is written in Bahasa Malaysia for all passing motorists to understand and take the necessary precautions to avoid any untoward incidents,” he added.
Wan Shaharuddin advised motorists to avoid using the road during the night and rain due to poor vision.
According to him, wild animals would often sit on the road to warm their bodies in the night or after rain.
The bus was travelling to Betong, Thailand from Terengganu with 30 passengers onboard when the accident occurred at 5.30am on Aug 24.
The driver and the passengers escaped unhurt.
The impact of the crash caused the a cracked windscreen and damages to the front portion of the bus.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://malaysiaupdates.com/2017/09/17/no-action-against-driver-of-bus-which-rammed-into-elephant/
Grik district police chief Supt Ismail Che Isa said the accident was unintentional and there was no case to pursue.
“Elephants and other wild animals roam freely in the area and such incidents occur,” he added.
Perak Wildlife and National Parks principal assistant director Wan Shaharuddin Wan Noordin said: “There are no criminal elements, and the weather at the time of the incident has to be taken into account.
“Based on the driver’s statement, thick fog had limited the vision about one to five metres.
“The driver could not see the elephant when it crossed the road due to the blurred vision,” he told theSun today.
Wan Shaharuddin said post mortem report by a veterinarian revealed the animal died due to respiratory failure, blood loss, fluid accumulation in the lungs and a broken leg.
As for precautionary measures, he said a total of 10 signboards of wild animals crossing including elephants have been erected along the road.
“Apart from the warning signs the signboard also provide guidelines incase motorists run into animals.
“It is written in Bahasa Malaysia for all passing motorists to understand and take the necessary precautions to avoid any untoward incidents,” he added.
Wan Shaharuddin advised motorists to avoid using the road during the night and rain due to poor vision.
According to him, wild animals would often sit on the road to warm their bodies in the night or after rain.
The bus was travelling to Betong, Thailand from Terengganu with 30 passengers onboard when the accident occurred at 5.30am on Aug 24.
The driver and the passengers escaped unhurt.
The impact of the crash caused the a cracked windscreen and damages to the front portion of the bus.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://malaysiaupdates.com/2017/09/17/no-action-against-driver-of-bus-which-rammed-into-elephant/
Saturday, September 09, 2017
Elephant killed by tour bus in Malaysia
A 10-year-old elephant was killed on Wednesday morning after it was hit by a tour bus along the Gerik-Jeli Highway, according to wildlife activist group Management & Ecology of Malaysian Elephants, reports Channel News Asia. In a Facebook post, MEME shared police photos that showed the injured elephant on the side of the road. The animal was seen to have sustained head and body injuries.
No one on the bus, which sustained a large crack on its windscreen, was reportedly hurt. The Malay Mail cited Gerik police deputy Chief Mohd Sohaimi Ishak as saying that the bus was driving down a slope when the elephant suddenly ran across its path.
Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) director Loo Kean Seong also said that the forested area where the incident happened is also a habitat for elephants, said the The Star.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://dailyasianage.com/news/82212/elephant-killed-by-tour-bus-in-malaysia
No one on the bus, which sustained a large crack on its windscreen, was reportedly hurt. The Malay Mail cited Gerik police deputy Chief Mohd Sohaimi Ishak as saying that the bus was driving down a slope when the elephant suddenly ran across its path.
Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) director Loo Kean Seong also said that the forested area where the incident happened is also a habitat for elephants, said the The Star.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://dailyasianage.com/news/82212/elephant-killed-by-tour-bus-in-malaysia
Sunday, September 03, 2017
10-year-old elephant killed by tour bus in Malaysia
A 10-year-old elephant was killed on Wednesday (Aug 23) morning after it was hit by a tour bus along the Gerik-Jeli Highway, according to wildlife activist group Management & Ecology of Malaysian Elephants (MEME).
In a Facebook post, MEME shared police photos that showed the injured elephant on the side of the road. The animal was seen to have sustained head and body injuries.
No one on the bus, which sustained a large crack on its windscreen, was reportedly hurt. The Malay Mail cited Gerik police deputy chief Mohd Sohaimi Ishak as saying that the bus was driving down a slope when the elephant suddenly ran across its path.
To read the full article, click on the story title
In a Facebook post, MEME shared police photos that showed the injured elephant on the side of the road. The animal was seen to have sustained head and body injuries.
No one on the bus, which sustained a large crack on its windscreen, was reportedly hurt. The Malay Mail cited Gerik police deputy chief Mohd Sohaimi Ishak as saying that the bus was driving down a slope when the elephant suddenly ran across its path.
To read the full article, click on the story title
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Elephant dies after being hit by tour bus in Malaysia
Some two months after an elephant calf was run over and killed, another pachyderm, this time, a 10-year-old bull, died after it was struck by a bus on the same stretch of the Gerik-Jeli Highway in Malaysia.
This is despite the many signboards put up to warn motorists about elephants and other wildlife crossing in the area.
The elephant was killed after it was hit by the tour bus early yesterday, as it was crossing at Kilometre 59 in Gerik.
Pictures of the carcass at the scene and the bus with its cracked windscreen and damaged front end were widely shared on social media, angering many animal lovers and conservationists.
Some asked how the driver had failed to spot such a large animal.
Gerik OCPD Supt Ismail Che Isa said the bus was driven by a 62-year-old man and that the incident occurred about 5km from the Titiwangsa rest stop.
"The bus was going down a slope and heading towards Gerik when the elephant suddenly came out of the forest. The driver told us he could not brake in time," he said.
He said the elephant fell over on impact and then got up and walked to the left side of the highway. It sat there for awhile and then died.
Supt Ismail said the elephant suffered lacerations on its head and back.
"The bus driver and his 33 passengers were not injured," he said, adding that the Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) has been informed of the incident.
In June, a two-year-old elephant was crossing the highway and was killed when a car collided with it.
State Perhilitan director Loo Kean Seong said the area is an elephant habitat and that the animals are always roaming, no matter the time of day.
"So motorists must be careful and drive cautiously along that stretch. Please also do not speed," he said.
The carcass will be sent for a post-mortem and its tusks will be removed before burial.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/elephant-dies-after-being-hit-by-tour-bus-in-malaysia
This is despite the many signboards put up to warn motorists about elephants and other wildlife crossing in the area.
The elephant was killed after it was hit by the tour bus early yesterday, as it was crossing at Kilometre 59 in Gerik.
Pictures of the carcass at the scene and the bus with its cracked windscreen and damaged front end were widely shared on social media, angering many animal lovers and conservationists.
Some asked how the driver had failed to spot such a large animal.
Gerik OCPD Supt Ismail Che Isa said the bus was driven by a 62-year-old man and that the incident occurred about 5km from the Titiwangsa rest stop.
"The bus was going down a slope and heading towards Gerik when the elephant suddenly came out of the forest. The driver told us he could not brake in time," he said.
He said the elephant fell over on impact and then got up and walked to the left side of the highway. It sat there for awhile and then died.
Supt Ismail said the elephant suffered lacerations on its head and back.
"The bus driver and his 33 passengers were not injured," he said, adding that the Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) has been informed of the incident.
In June, a two-year-old elephant was crossing the highway and was killed when a car collided with it.
State Perhilitan director Loo Kean Seong said the area is an elephant habitat and that the animals are always roaming, no matter the time of day.
"So motorists must be careful and drive cautiously along that stretch. Please also do not speed," he said.
The carcass will be sent for a post-mortem and its tusks will be removed before burial.
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Wednesday, July 05, 2017
Baby elephant killed in highway accident
IPOH, Malaysia — A two-year-old elephant was found dead in a pool of blood by the roadside of the Gerik-Jeli Highway in Gerik, some 130 kilometers from here.
Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) director Loo Kean Seong said state officers found the carcass at around 7 a.m. last Friday.
“While incidents like this do not happen often, we would like motorists to be extra careful when driving along this highway.
“We have already erected signboards to notify motorists that there would be elephant crossings along the stretch of the highway, so they need to be more responsible, especially when they are driving late at night or early in the morning,” said Loo.
Loo also urged motorists throughout the country to report to their respective state Perhilitan if they knocked into any endangered or protected species like elephants, tigers, tapirs or leopards.
This is so that we can at least investigate and bury the carcass instead of leaving it to rot at the roadside,” he added. Ecotourism and Conservation Society Malaysia (Ecomy) co-founder and chief executive officer Andrew Sebastian said the particular stretch of the highway itself should be viewed as a heritage road with potential for ecotourism.
In view of the wildlife viaducts and countless articles written about the Belum-Temengor forest complex, the road and its wildlife, he said motorists must be extra careful.
“This is to avoid accidents as well as to show courtesy, respect and adherence to wildlife laws that are meant to also protect our other protected users,” he added.
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Friday, March 24, 2017
2 rare elephant species killed for ivory in Central Sabah
Sabre and another large bull are killed by poachers for ivory, with both carcasses found 1,500m from each other, says authorities.
LAHAD DATU: Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) and Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU) teams are deeply saddened by the killing of two wild bull elephants by poachers near Segama River, Kawag Forest Reserve.
A first bull was found on Dec 27 last year in the middle of an estate bordering Kawag Forest Reserve while the second bull, was a gorgeous sabre-tusked bull called Sabre, that was earlier rescued from a plantation near Tawau and translocated to Kawag Forest Reserve three months ago after being collared by DGFC and WRU.
“We found the remains of Sabre on New Year’s Eve, with the satellite collar next to the skull,” said DGFC Director Benoit Goossens in a statement, today.
He said Sabre was rescued from a plantation near Tawau early October last year and fitted with a satellite collar and released into a forest reserve near Danum where he thought the animal would be safe.
“We were obviously wrong. In the space of a month, Sabre and another large bull were killed by poachers for ivory, both carcasess were found 1,500m from each other, although the killings did not happen at the same time,” said Goossens.
To read the full article, click on the story title
LAHAD DATU: Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) and Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU) teams are deeply saddened by the killing of two wild bull elephants by poachers near Segama River, Kawag Forest Reserve.
A first bull was found on Dec 27 last year in the middle of an estate bordering Kawag Forest Reserve while the second bull, was a gorgeous sabre-tusked bull called Sabre, that was earlier rescued from a plantation near Tawau and translocated to Kawag Forest Reserve three months ago after being collared by DGFC and WRU.
“We found the remains of Sabre on New Year’s Eve, with the satellite collar next to the skull,” said DGFC Director Benoit Goossens in a statement, today.
He said Sabre was rescued from a plantation near Tawau early October last year and fitted with a satellite collar and released into a forest reserve near Danum where he thought the animal would be safe.
“We were obviously wrong. In the space of a month, Sabre and another large bull were killed by poachers for ivory, both carcasess were found 1,500m from each other, although the killings did not happen at the same time,” said Goossens.
To read the full article, click on the story title
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Tusks seized in Kalimantan may have come from two dead Jumbos in Sabah
As often, science can come to the rescue. This time for determining whether pygmy elephant tusks seized a few days ago in North Kalimantan, Indonesia, belonged to two male pachyderms that were recently killed in Sabah.
Indonesian officials stopped a woman who was carrying five elephant tusks in Nunukan in North Kalimantan last week, and Malaysian officials suspect that at least some of those tusks might have come from the two elephants that were found dead in Sabah in late December last year. One of the elephants, nicknamed “Sabre,” made headlines worldwide just a few moths prior for its tusks, which had been growing backward in a downward arc.
Malaysian officials now want to have DNA tests conducted on the tusks seized in Indonesia to see if the tusks had come from Sabre and the other male pygmy elephant killed recently in Sabah. “So far, we don’t know exactly where the tusks could have come from,” said Augustine Tuuga, director of Sabah’s Wildlife Department. “It can only be ascertained when the Indonesian wildlife authorities had taken a statement from the person or conduct a DNA analysis to compare them with the specimens of animals killed in Sabah,” he added.
The wanton murder of the two endangered animals has enraged conservationists and animal lovers far and wide, especially since both were killed within a protected area in Kinabatangan. The two elephants were found 1.5 kilometers apart, both with bullet holes in their skulls, indicating that both animals had likely been killed by the same poacher or poachers. The state’s Wildlife Department offered a RM10,000 reward to anyone who could assist officials in tracking down those involved in the elephants’ death.
Over the past years and decades, the number of Malaysia’s pygmy elephants has dropped precipitously, exposing the tuskers to the threat of extinction in the wild. The pachyderms have seen large parts of their ancestral habitats lost forever or else badly fragmented as vast swathes of forest have been cut down by loggers and palm oil cultivators.
Elephants need ample space for roaming far and wide as they forage for food. Because of the loss of their natural habitats, however, they have ended up coming into increasing contact with humans who have been encroaching on their habitats. This has increased the risk of conflicts between elephants and people. Sadly, poachers, too, have been gaining easer access to wild elephants owing to the relentless shriveling up of forests.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://cleanmalaysia.com/2017/01/21/tusks-seized-kalimantan-may-come-two-dead-jumbos-sabah/
Indonesian officials stopped a woman who was carrying five elephant tusks in Nunukan in North Kalimantan last week, and Malaysian officials suspect that at least some of those tusks might have come from the two elephants that were found dead in Sabah in late December last year. One of the elephants, nicknamed “Sabre,” made headlines worldwide just a few moths prior for its tusks, which had been growing backward in a downward arc.
Malaysian officials now want to have DNA tests conducted on the tusks seized in Indonesia to see if the tusks had come from Sabre and the other male pygmy elephant killed recently in Sabah. “So far, we don’t know exactly where the tusks could have come from,” said Augustine Tuuga, director of Sabah’s Wildlife Department. “It can only be ascertained when the Indonesian wildlife authorities had taken a statement from the person or conduct a DNA analysis to compare them with the specimens of animals killed in Sabah,” he added.
The wanton murder of the two endangered animals has enraged conservationists and animal lovers far and wide, especially since both were killed within a protected area in Kinabatangan. The two elephants were found 1.5 kilometers apart, both with bullet holes in their skulls, indicating that both animals had likely been killed by the same poacher or poachers. The state’s Wildlife Department offered a RM10,000 reward to anyone who could assist officials in tracking down those involved in the elephants’ death.
Over the past years and decades, the number of Malaysia’s pygmy elephants has dropped precipitously, exposing the tuskers to the threat of extinction in the wild. The pachyderms have seen large parts of their ancestral habitats lost forever or else badly fragmented as vast swathes of forest have been cut down by loggers and palm oil cultivators.
Elephants need ample space for roaming far and wide as they forage for food. Because of the loss of their natural habitats, however, they have ended up coming into increasing contact with humans who have been encroaching on their habitats. This has increased the risk of conflicts between elephants and people. Sadly, poachers, too, have been gaining easer access to wild elephants owing to the relentless shriveling up of forests.
Please credit and share this article with others using this link:http://cleanmalaysia.com/2017/01/21/tusks-seized-kalimantan-may-come-two-dead-jumbos-sabah/
Saturday, January 14, 2017
RM10,000 bounty over elephant murders
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) is offering a RM10,000 reward for informants with valid information on the two wild bull elephants that were slaughtered by poachers for their ivory near the Segama River, Kawag Forest Reserve.
The department has asked those with information to call the department at 013-5441980.
The first bull was found on Dec 27, last year, in the middle of an estate bordering Kawag Forest Reserve, while the second bull, a sabre-tusked bull called Sabre was found on New Year’s Eve.
Sabre was rescued from a plantation near Tawau and translocated to the Kawag Forest Reserve three months earlier, after it was collared by the Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) and Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU). When the carcass was discovered, the satellite collar was next to its skull.
The tusks of both bulls were removed.
DGFC Director, Benoit Goossens had explained that after Sabre was rescued at a plantation near Tawau last October, he was fitted with a satellite collar and later released at the forest reserve near Danum where it was thought that the bull would be safe.
The department has asked those with information to call the department at 013-5441980.
The first bull was found on Dec 27, last year, in the middle of an estate bordering Kawag Forest Reserve, while the second bull, a sabre-tusked bull called Sabre was found on New Year’s Eve.
Sabre was rescued from a plantation near Tawau and translocated to the Kawag Forest Reserve three months earlier, after it was collared by the Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) and Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU). When the carcass was discovered, the satellite collar was next to its skull.
The tusks of both bulls were removed.
DGFC Director, Benoit Goossens had explained that after Sabre was rescued at a plantation near Tawau last October, he was fitted with a satellite collar and later released at the forest reserve near Danum where it was thought that the bull would be safe.
To read the full article, click on the story title
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