Saved!!!
Malaysia saves endangered pygmy elephant on Borneo
By Agence France-Presse, Updated: 1/24/2012
Malaysian wildlife authorities said they had rescued a pygmy elephant calf on Borneo island and expressed hope a planned sanctuary would provide protection for the endangered animals.
Malaysian wildlife authorities said they had rescued a pygmy elephant calf on Borneo island and expressed hope a planned sanctuary would provide protection for the endangered animals.
The male calf, which is less than a month old, was pulled out of a deep moat surrounding a palm oil plantation in remote Sabah state on Friday, said Sen Nathan, a senior official with the Sabah Wildlife Department.
It is the fifth calf rescued by wildlife officials since 2009. Three of those previously saved have died but a female has recovered and is now at a wildlife park.
There are fewer than 2,000 Borneo pygmy elephants left in the wild, according to authorities. A sub-species of the Asian elephant, the creatures have a rounded appearance and are smaller than mainland elephants.
The latest rescued calf, which weighed about 50 kilograms (110 pounds), was in a serious condition, Nathan told AFP.
“He suffered severe dehydration and cuts and abrasions, probably while trying to get out of the moat,” he said.
The elephant’s mother was probably forced to leave it behind after the pair fell into the moat, and the calf likely spent more than a day there before being spotted by plantation workers, he said.
Nathan said a planned elephant sanctuary on 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) of land within the 26,000-hectare Kinabatangan wildlife sanctuary in Sabah would help protect the animals.
The sanctuary would be able to house up to 60 injured elephants, as well as those found when they were too young to be reintroduced into the wild.
Authorities announced plans for the sanctuary earlier this month and want it open by the end of the year. “We really need this sanctuary,” Nathan said.
The sanctuary will be funded with 5.3 million ringgit ($1.7 million) from industry body the Malaysian Palm Oil Council and 1.5 million ringgit from NGO the Borneo Conservation Trust.
Wildlife activists warn that pygmy elephants are fast losing their natural habitat to deforestation and human encroachment on Borneo, a vast island shared by Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.
Source: http://news.malaysia.msn.com/top-stories/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5800958
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So sad to hear about this. The elephants are really pitiful to be in such an environment! But at the same time so happy to know that the officials are doing something about the elephants. The planned sanctuary will be very good for the elephants in distress…
I am so glad that this elephant had been saved. I cant imagine what would have happened to this elephant if it had not been found. And i hope it is fully recovered by this time, and that they are able to raise the funds to build this animal sanctuary. So if they rescue any animals in the future, they are able to give them love and compassion.
Yes feel inspired when hearing about more animals being saved. We really can’t let the greed of man wipe out all these magnificent animals from the Borneo. The more diversity of animals become extinct the more dire the earth will become, and soon even this very Earth will become inhospitable to us.
Through the big hoo-ha of a rescued pygmy elephant calf on Borneo Island, a hope is at least borned for the 2,000 Borneo Pygmy elephants left in the wild jungles of the Borneo wildlife. It was said a planned elephant sanctuary on a 3,000acres of land within the 26,000 hectare Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Sabah to help protect the animals, 60 of which were injured elephants, with some too young to be reintroduced into the wild. At all costs, the wildlife really needed the Santuary by year end! On bended knees, may the Authorities including the wildlife Activitists, please take note. Heartfelt thanks to Malaysian Palm Oil Council and the NGO The Borneo Conservation Trust for the required fundings. Pray that more will be forthcomming soon.
It is always good and relieved to hear that endangered animals are being saved and actions are taken to have a sanctuary for them. And being funded by Borneo Conservation Trust alongside with Malaysian Palm Oil Council. Great!
Animals would only be safe in their natural habitat if only we humans are not greedy for selfish interests and reasons. Irrespective endangered animals or not, they do have feelings and capable to give love as long we humans do the same. How great it will be and idealistic to have reciprocal love and caring for each other in action. Hope and wish many more animal sanctuaries with sustainable funding and space to manifest soon. Not just plain sanctuaries but to act as an educational platform for all be it young or old to learn and love animals.
It always warms my heart and revive my confidence in mankind when I read stories like this. Animals are defenseless in the face of man’s encroachment into their natural habitat. Every day animals are slaughtered and tortured for food, research, sports, human cruelty or even just neglect, and they cannot speak of their pain nor appeal to man for kindness and mercy.
So much more can be done for them. Having a sanctuary for elephants is a very good start and I am very proud of the authorities for planning this move.
So happy to hear our government had a planned elephant sanctuary on 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) of land within the 26,000-hectare Kinabatangan wildlife sanctuary in Sabah to help protect the animals. I think the most effect way to protect animal won’t be torture or killed by people is the government start to take action for everyone who hurt or kill animals.
Elephant is giant animal almost all other animals. It’s body is big, it character is quite soft and harmless. However, many elephants be torture by human. Some of them be train to entertain, the training they are experienced is painful and suffering. Some of them killed by human for it’s body, used as medicine, ornament and food. Some of them torture be used as transport tool.
Go back to our primary school text book, you always can see in the animal corner our friendly elephant friend rounded his long nose and smile to you. I don’t know when this picture will be replace by a mesin mode with long nose…..
It’s sad to see animals endanger but it’s also glad to see there are action to save them.
Thanks to Malaysian Palm Oil Council and Borneo Conservative Trust for their kind fund.
The chief executive of Malaysian Palm Oil Council had also raised his concern on of the orang utan at Melbourne Zoo during his visit to the country. I believe he is an animal lovers and if more people are educated on the value living animals there will be less and less animal endanger and more and more people.
It is always good to hear that animals are saved, regardless whether they are endangered or not.
“Earthlings” is a very good documentary movie which all of us should watch, which will make us contemplate and be kind to every being.