KOTA KINABALU: A third elephant is found beheaded in the Tawau district on Wednesday (April 9), raising fresh alarm as authorities work to uncover those behind the series of grisly killings.

The latest carcass, discovered around noon on Tuesday (April 8) near Ladang Bukit Tukok under Sabah Softwoods in Kalabakan, adds to growing concern over the safety of Bornean pygmy elephants, an endangered species protected under state law.

Sabah Wildlife Department director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar confirmed that the elephant’s head was severed.

"The remains were already decomposing when found. This latest case shows a continuing trend of elephant killings and we are treating it very seriously," he said.

He said the department is still investigating the motives behind the killing and working to identify those responsible.

"We will question the estate management. If the elephant died inside the plantation, the landowner is answerable," he said.

This latest case follows two other elephant carcasses found earlier this year – one on January 20 in Tibow and another on February 25 in Umas-Umas – both also beheaded.
Soffian said they have identified possible suspects in the killings.

"However, we can't disclose any details at this stage to avoid disrupting the investigation. What I can say is that more than one individual may be involved," he said.

He explained that the elephant’s head was likely removed to make it easier and faster for the perpetrators to take the tusks.

"It takes time to extract the tusks from the skull, so the quickest way to leave the scene with them is by cutting off the head," he said.

He added that based on their investigation, all three elephants were believed to have been shot dead on the spot before they were beheaded.

"The shooter or shooters are believed to be experts," he said.

Soffian also questioned why the discovery had taken so long, given that the elephant was found within an active plantation area.

"It is also questionable why it was discovered so late when the estate workers would have discovered this because they are working in the estate," he said.

He confirmed that the latest carcass was found inside one of the oil palm blocks at Ladang Bukit Tukok and may have died about three weeks ago.

"It could have died even before the second elephant was found. The second one was still fresh when discovered," he added.

"If it died within the plantation, the plantation owner is responsible and answerable to our questions," he said, adding that all angles are being looked into.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew called on April 6 for stronger coordination among enforcement agencies and the public to stop elephant killings, saying that perpetrators must be brought to justice.

Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as investigations continue.

The Bornean pygmy elephant is listed as a fully protected species under the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997. Those found guilty of harming or killing the animals face hefty fines and jail time.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025...-tawau-district

the poachers have made it to sabah

if found pls shove the tusk into their butt and let them bleed to death in front of the elephants' skeleton...

This post has been edited by pandah: Apr 9 2025, 08:15 PM

This is where drone should be use like in war.

expert poachers
damn!!!!
only surefire way to stop this once n for all is to chop their ___

bet they would've targeted orangutans as well

elephant so big also can be beheaded.. sabah & songlap berpisah tiada

Soffian also questioned why the discovery had taken so long, given that the elephant was found within an active plantation area.

"It is also questionable why it was discovered so late when the estate workers would have discovered this because they are working in the estate," he said.

He confirmed that the latest carcass was found inside one of the oil palm blocks at Ladang Bukit Tukok and may have died about three weeks ago.

"It could have died even before the second elephant was found. The second one was still fresh when discovered," he added.

"If it died within the plantation, the plantation owner is responsible and answerable to our questions," he said, adding that all angles are being looked into.



Tunggu apa lagi, take action la.

all the workers pilak so they literally dont care..

If elephants are being killed for their tusks, wouldn't tusk trimming help prevent poachers from targeting them?

Install micro GPS into the tusks

Somebody please call Tony Jaa.

Maybe vietnamese ?
They trespassed hutan in Terengganu and poached our tigers