KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Wildlife department is facing a busy week having to deal with two dead animals and a lost baby elephant in the east coast of Sabah.
An adult male elephant named Sapa, who was injured by a snare trap in Lahad Datu and rescued on June 1, died at the Bornean Elephant Sanctuary in Kinabatangan yesterday although he had been active and showed healing symptoms.
On the same day, the department was alerted that an Orangutan carcass was found lying near the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve in Sandakan.
The department spokesperson Siti Nur’Ain Ampuan Acheh said Sapa died despite of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory treatment.
“(Sapa’s) death is due to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome due to septicemia which might be due to bacterial infection (from deep wound on its right forelimb).
“(As for the Orang Utan), personnel from the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre rushed to the scene upon receiving the report and found the carcass on the ground without any sign of infliction or physical injury,” she said in a statement.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday in Tawau, a weak baby elephant was found wandering alone at the Brumas Plantation in the district.
Siti said district wildlife personnel had secured and provided medical assistance to the three-week-old male calf.
“The baby elephant was taken to Tawau and given milk formula and fluids intravenously and transported to Sepilok this morning.
“It is bright and alert and receptive to drinking milk. Some small wounds were found in different parts of the body and are now being treated.”
As for the sighting of a turtle carcass at Jesselton Point terminal here yesterday, the department could not find the body which probably drifted elsewhere due to strong currents.