Fighting to survive: A file photo of a herd of Borneo pygmy elephants. There’s an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 left in the wild.
KOTA KINABALU: With a second Borneo pygmy elephant found brutally killed in Sabah’s east coast Tawau district this year, the state government wants a coordinated effort by all enforcement agencies to take on poachers.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew said the latest incident underscores an urgent need for heightened vigilance and cooperation between all enforcement agencies, local communities as well as the general public.
She said an investigation is underway by the Sabah Wildlife Department to find leads and arrest people behind the latest killing where a decapitated elephant carcass was found rotting in Tawau on Friday.
The discovery of the dead elephant was within the general area where another elephant was killed in a similar manner along the Kalabakan-Sapulut road in Tawau region back in January.
Liew said she was saddened by the latest killing and reiterated that the state will not tolerate any acts of cruelty and poaching against Sabah’s protected wildlife.
“We will ensure that the perpetrators are identified, prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and held accountable,” she said yesterday.
The incident, she noted, was the second in a short span of time as it reflected a potential pattern of illegal poaching activities in the state.
“The state Wildlife Department has launched an immediate investigation into the case.
“It has stepped up enforcement measures including joint operations; roadblocks are being carried out with other security agencies at key locations to deter further illegal activities.
“We call on all parties to share any information that may assist in the investigation and everyone remains committed to safeguarding Sabah’s unique biodiversity,” she said.
Liew also said the number of deaths involving elephants has been on the rise since the last quarter of 2024, but did not provide figures.
“Therefore we call for stronger collaboration and coordinated actions among all relevant enforcement, conservation, and security agencies both at the state and federal levels, to address this threat decisively and prevent further loss of our endangered species,” she added.
The Borneo pygmy elephant is a fully protected species under the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
Liew warned that those who harm these animals face imprisonment and severe fines if found guilty.
“With an estimated population of only 1,500 to 2,000 elephants remaining in the wild, each loss is a serious setback to the ongoing efforts to protect and preserve this endangered species.”
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