Injured pygmy elephant recovering well

Wildlife officers are having trouble treating the animal as its becomes aggressive when approached.

KOTA KINABALU: An endangered Borneo pygmy elephant rescued from Sabah's east coast is recovering from the injury sustained when its foot was caught in a snare trap.

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Christina Liew said the animal was responding well to preliminary treatment, but it had to be taken to the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary (BES) in Kinabatangan for better care.

Liew said wildlife rangers were having trouble approaching the elephant, which could become aggressive when afraid or stressed.

"So far, all looks good. The wound on its leg seems to be healing well," she said in a statement late Friday.

She said the elephant was being transferred to the BES on Saturday (Aug 18).

The male elephant, aged between seven to nine years, suffered an injury to its front right leg in the Taliwas area in Lahad Datu and was rescued by rangers late Tuesday (Aug 14).

The snare caused a two-inch deep wound on the leg, which was infested with maggots.

Pgymy elephants in Sabah continue to face threats from human activities such as development and poaching.

Numerous elephant deaths and injuries have been reported over the years.

This year alone, more than 10 elephants have been reported dead with dozens more injured, mostly due to snare traps and gunshots.

However, authorities are still unable to uncover the parties responsible as no one – including estate workers or villagers – seem to have witnessed anything.