Elephant found dead in Lahad Datu was poisoned

There have been a string of elephant deaths in Sabah in recent months. (Bernama pic)

LAHAD DATU: A female Borneon elephant, whose carcass was found near the Malua Forest Reserve here recently, is believed to have been poisoned.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga said based on the post-mortem conducted three days ago, he was not ruling out poisoning as the cause of death of the animal, which was estimated to be aged between five and 10.

“Initial investigations found no external injuries on the elephant but based on the post-mortem report, there was bleeding in the spleen and kidney, including ulcers,” he said when contacted here today.

Augustine said the department was also waiting for the laboratory test results.

He said the three wildlife centres in the state managed by the department, have been operating as usual but without visitors, since the ongoing, nationwide movement control order (MCO) was implemented on March 18 by the government to contain Covid-19.

The centres — the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Borneo Elephant Sanctuary — had enough food supplies for all the animals, he added. - FMT