Dead elephant, missing tusks, no cause yet: Sabah awaits lab results on Kinabatangan carcass

Sabah wildlife rangers inspect a male elephant carcass that drifted downstream of the Kinabatangan River, near Angco Jaya Plantation and Lot 4 of the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary. — The Borneo Post pic

First Published: Monday, 05 Oct 2026 11:03 AM MYT

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 5 — The Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) is conducting further investigations into the death of a male elephant found in the Kinabatangan River, near Angco Jaya Plantation and Lot 4 of the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary.

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the department initially received a report of a dead elephant in the river near Pontian Plantation.

A team comprising the Rapid Response Team (RRT) and honorary wildlife rangers from Sukau subsequently carried out an inspection and located the carcass after it was believed to have drifted downstream from the initial reported location.

“The carcass was pulled onto the riverbank with the assistance of machinery from Angco Jaya Plantation to enable a physical examination and post-mortem to be carried out.

“The elephant was identified as a male, approximately six feet tall and estimated to be between 14 and 18 years old. Based on the condition of the carcass, it was estimated to have died about four to five days before the examination,” he said in a statement.

Jafry said the examination found several injuries and that both tusks were missing, and these findings are now part of the Wildlife Department’s ongoing investigation.

“At this stage, we do not want to speculate on the circumstances surrounding the injuries, the missing tusks or the cause of death. These matters require further investigation and must be supported by evidence,” he said.

He said the department conducted a post-mortem on Oct 1 with samples of the elephant’s organs and stomach contents collected for laboratory analysis.

“At this stage, the exact cause of death has yet to be determined. We are awaiting the laboratory results as well as the full post-mortem findings.

“I have instructed the Sabah Wildlife Department to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of this case, including the circumstances surrounding the missing tusks.

“The department is also taking a statement from the person who first reported the incident as part of its follow-up investigation,” he said.

Jafry said the state government views the incident seriously and appropriate action would be taken should the investigation establish any element of human involvement or violation of wildlife laws.

He also called for the public’s cooperation in helping the Sabah Wildlife Department establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“Anyone who may have knowledge of this case is urged to come forward and report it to the department immediately,” he said.

“We must allow the Wildlife Department to complete its investigation and obtain the laboratory findings. There should be no speculation over the cause of death until the scientific findings and investigations are complete.

“The protection of Sabah’s wildlife is a responsibility we take seriously, and incidents such as this must be investigated thoroughly and based on evidence,” he said. — The Borneo Post