Sabah wildlife officers to get police protection when tracking down Sg Udin elephant killers

TAWAU (Bernama): Police will assist the Sabah Wildlife Department to track down those involved in the incident where an elephant which was shot more than 70 times in Sungai Udin, Dumpas, Kalabakan near here, in an operation dubbed 'Operasi Khazanah'.

Tawau District Police Chief ACP Peter Umbuas said police would not allow Wildlife Department personnel to work alone and without police protection in this matter.

"The suspects are confirmed to have armed and the Wildlife Department has lodged a police report," he told reporters here on Monday (Sept 30).

He added that a meeting would be held tomorrow (Oct 1) with Wildlife Department representatives to discuss ways to track down the suspects.

The Sabah Wildlife Department on Monday (Sept 30) described the killing of a pygmy elephant in Sungai Udin, on Thursday as a cruel act based on the outcome of a post-mortem by a team of veterinarians and wildlife officers.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuuga told Bernama that the post-mortem found most of the bullets in the elephant's body and the elephant was believed to have suffered and died as a result of the wounds. – Bernama