KOTA KINABALU: Sabah authorities are closely monitoring an injured Bornean elephant believed to be roaming the Felda Kalabakan Selatan area near Tawau on Sabah’s east coast.
Concern over the animal grew after a video showing the elephant with a visibly injured trunk began circulating widely on WhatsApp and social media on Tuesday (May 19), accompanied by messages claiming that “two new elephants” had been snared in the Danum Road and Kalabakan areas.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said a complaint regarding the injured elephant had already been lodged last week, prompting search and monitoring operations by authorities on May 13 and 14.
“However, the elephant could not be located during the operation and rescue intervention could not be initiated at that stage,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (May 19).
Jafry said further action would depend on fresh sightings or additional information from the field.
According to preliminary feedback from the veterinary team, injuries involving an elephant’s trunk are highly complex and difficult to treat successfully.
He said any rescue effort would likely involve surgery to remove damaged tissue or reconstruct torn trunk muscles, followed by intensive post-surgical care, feeding management, temporary holding arrangements and continuous monitoring for up to two weeks.
“Initial observations suggest that the wound has shown some signs of healing, although the closure of the wound is not ideal,” he said.
Jafry said field rangers from the Sabah Wildlife Department were continuing to monitor the elephant closely and, at this stage, there was no evidence of severe infection that could immediately threaten its survival.
“Veterinary intervention is therefore not required at this point. However, treatment measures will be activated should the condition worsen or further complications arise,” he said.
He said the exact cause of the injury remained under investigation.
While snaring was among the possibilities being assessed, Jafry said it had not been confirmed as the cause, adding that authorities were also looking into the possibility of injuries caused by sharp objects.
“Among the possibilities being examined is accidental contact with harvesting tools used in oil palm plantations, particularly if such equipment had been left behind or lodged within plantation blocks,” he said.
Jafry urged the public to avoid speculation while investigations and field assessments were ongoing.
“The Bornean elephant is one of Sabah’s most iconic wildlife species and an important part of our environmental heritage. We remain committed to ensuring that every case involving wildlife is handled responsibly, professionally and based on scientific assessment,” he said.
The case has added to growing concern over Sabah’s endangered elephant population, with the development coming on the same day Sabah Wildlife Department authorities confirmed the discovery of another elephant carcass in Tongod, where the animal was found decapitated, believed to have been killed for its tusks.
