Poisoning Causes Over 50 Elephant Deaths In Last Decade In Sabah
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About 50 to 60 elephants reported dead in Sabah within the last 10 years died due to poisoning. Poison is exposed to elephants in the form of plants, environment, or pollution.
What you need to know: Sabah has been struggling with numerous elephant deaths over the past decade, some seemingly without ill-intent. However, substances poisonous to elephants exist in the wild and also in areas of human development.
Why it matters: Elephants are a protected species in the country, and each death adds stress to an already-dwindling population of elephants. Outdated data from 12 years ago marks the population of elephants in Sabah at just 2,000 individuals. The largest herd of 600 resided in Mount Rara Forest Reserve, 500 in Tabin Forest Reserve, and 300 in Kinabatang.
Who said what: Sabah Wildlife Department deputy director Dr Sen Nathan noted that cooperation with the National Poison Centre started in March to determine the causes of poisoning, but the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) delayed investigations. However, the Department is more concerned with knowing whether the elephants were poisoned with intention or not.
Read more: Sabah Wildlife Dept: Death of 50-60 elephants in 10 years due to poisoning (Malay Mail)
Another pygmy elephant falls victim to ivory trade. Sabah man arrested. (TRP)
Confirmed: Dead elephant found in Sabah river killed for tusks by poachers (TRP)
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