KOTA KINABALU: No one will be spared from being held liable should elephant killings take place on their land, including at forest reserves in Sabah.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Christina Liew was responding to a report that the state recorded 25 elephant deaths in the first eight months of this year which is higher than in previous years.
The government has offered a reward of RM120,000 to those who can furnish details on the killing of elephants, but to date no one had come forward.
“The (Sabah Wildlife department) director (Augustine Tuuga) has power to prosecute...land owners will be asked to come and explain why elephants die at their land.
“An elephant expert from United States is also coming, a special unit will be formed to help us solve the (elephants) issue,” she said after the 50th anniversary celebration of the ministry here.
Meanwhile, Augustine said there could be many possibilities that lead to the killing of elephants which is most likely due to human-elephant conflict that has been going on for many years.
NSTP had also reported last month that a herd of 30 elephants had wreaked havoc in Telupid which damaged many farms and property.
“Due to the conflict, elephants spend most of the time at plantations and they could be feeding on pesticide and herbicide, or even be more exposed to poachers.
“In recent cases of elephant killings, they were shot but the tusks were still intact or left with the carcass,” he said.
Augustine said none of the 25 elephant deaths this year were brought to court as there is no solid evidence.
The department was still investigating the death of 14 Borneo Pygmy elephants at Gunung Rara forest reserve in Tawau which occurred between Dec 2012 and Jan 2013.
“Nobody wants to come forward as a witness and poachers usually do it (the killing) at night when no one can see them,” he said, adding it was believed there were fewer than 2,000 Borneo pygmy elephants left in the wild.