KOTA KINABALU: Investigations into the death of a female Bornean pygmy elephant found in an oil palm estate in Lahad Datu last month have found no evidence of wildlife crime, with results showing that the animal died from organ failure.
Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew revealed the findings on Wednesday (Oct 1), citing a Sabah Wildlife Department investigation into the case.
She said the carcass of the nine to 10-year-old elephant was discovered by plantation workers inside the Felcra Berhad Estate in Danum on Sept 26.
A postmortem examination was carried out on Sept 27, during which only a small, old wound was found and no new injuries were detected.
“Samples of the elephant’s internal organs were taken and sent to the laboratory, and results confirmed that the death was caused by organ failure,” Liew said in a statement today.
The carcass of the female Bornean pygmy elephant was discovered on the morning of Sept 26 at the Felcra Berhad Estate Danum’s Block 57. A plantation supervisor found the animal during a routine patrol at about 10.20am, according to a report lodged by the estate’s management to the Sabah Wildlife Department.
