Fatal elephant attack an unfortunate incident, says Sabah tourism minister

KOTA KINABALU: The incident where a handler was gored to death by an elephant at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park near here on Sunday (Dec 25) was "unfortunate," says Datuk Jafry Ariffin.

The state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister said that the state Wildlife Department had informed him that standard operating procedures were in place for their handlers at the park and the sudden fatal attack by the adult elephant was an unfortunate incident.

"They (Lok Kawi Wildlife Park) have SOP but it was very unfortunate over what has happened," he said when contacted on Monday (Dec 26).

Wildlife ranger Joe Fred Lansou, 49, was gored to death by an adult elephant within the park's enclosure at about 8.30am on Friday (Dec 25).

The father of three school-going children was the head of the elephant unit at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park.

Jafri, who extended his personal condolences to the family, said that the Sabah Wildlife Department will make arrangements for his insurance to be paid to the family.

"Besides that, my ministry will allocate assistance for the family," he said, adding that he had also given immediate personal cash assistance to the family.

Penampang OCPD Deputy Supt Mohd Haris Ibrahim said that police have classified the case as sudden death.

Police investigations showed that the victim was treating an injured calf when the elephant gored him. He suffered injuries to his chest and abdomen and died at the scene.

The body had been sent for post-mortem at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here.