SHAH ALAM - A herd of 11 Borneo Pygmy elephants, including a calf, was successfully rescued after becoming trapped in an abandoned pond near the Deramakot Forest Reserve in Kinabatangan, Sabah.
The rescue operation was carried out last Saturday by a team from the Kinabatangan Wildlife Department after the elephants were unable to escape from the pond due to its steep and slippery embankments.
According to a statement shared on the 5R Hidupan Liar Facebook page, the incident involved 10 adult elephants and one baby elephant.
“Last week, a baby elephant together with 10 adult elephants were reported trapped in an abandoned water pond near the Deramakot Forest Reserve because of the steep and slippery embankments.
“Without delay, the Kinabatangan district Wildlife Department team immediately arrived at the location and carried out a rescue operation for the elephant herd by creating a safer and gentler exit route.
“Thanks to the efforts and cooperation of all parties involved, the elephant herd was successfully rescued without any serious injuries reported,” the post stated on Monday.
Authorities also proposed preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future, including sealing the abandoned pond or installing appropriate safety barriers around the area.
“The Wildlife Department would like to express its highest appreciation and gratitude to all individuals involved, including plantation workers who provided the initial information.
“This incident proves that cooperation between agencies, plantation operators and the community is extremely important in ensuring the continued protection of wildlife.
“Every small action and early report from the public can have a major impact in efforts to protect Sabah’s iconic species for future generations,” it added.