Endangered Borneo pygmy elephant discovered lifeless, shot 70 times by poachers in Sabah, Malaysia. Tragically found floating in a river, tusks removed.
A Borneo pygmy elephant has been found shot dead and floating in a river in Malaysia by poachers who stole its tusks, animal workers say
“The elephant endured 70 close-range shots, including a fatal temple shot; instant death, though suffering duration remains unknown. Sabah Wildlife Director deems the death ‘cruel.’ Authorities retrieve the submerged body, post-mortem confirms tusks sawed off. Police pursue at least four or five poachers. With only 1,500 pygmy elephants remaining, species is fully protected; offenders may face up to five years in jail or a $60,000 fine.”
Investigators believe a team of at least four or five poachers are responsible for the killing, and are now hunting for those responsible
Police were forced to use heavy machinery to get the elephant’s body out of the river, at which point they realise its tusks had been sawed off