KUALA LUMPUR – Ten endangered Borneo pygmy elephants have been found dead in a Malaysian forest, and officials say they were likely poisoned.
The elephant carcasses were found near each other over the past three weeks at the Gunung Rara Forest Reserve, Laurentius Ambu, director of the wildlife department in Sabah state on Borneo island, said Tuesday.
In one case, wildlife officers rescued a 3-month-old calf that was apparently trying to wake its dead mother. Poisoning appeared to be the probable cause, but officials have not determined whether it was intentional. Though some elephants have been killed for their tusks on Sabah in the past, there have been no signs of poaching this time.
The elephants found dead this month were believed to be from the same family group and ranged in age from 4 to 20 years.
The WWF wildlife group estimates that fewer than 1,500 Borneo pygmy elephants exist. They live mainly in Sabah and grow to about 2.45 meters tall, about 50 cm less than mainland Asian elephants.
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