Sabah minister raises alarm after suspected poaching of Bornean elephant in Tongod

19 May 2026

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Jafry Ariffin has expressed deep concern after a Bornean elephant was found dead in the Sungai Pinangah Forest Reserve, Tongod, in an incident suspected to involve wildlife crime.

The Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) carried out a preliminary field inspection on 18 May, between 12:13 and 15:30, with assistance from Community Rangers and the Royal Malaysia Police.

The Kinabatangan wildlife team had received a report at about 8:25 the same morning.

According to the SWD’s initial findings, estate workers in Tongod heard a loud explosion-like sound at about 17:30 on 17 May.

Heavy rain overnight delayed any inspection. The following morning at around 6:30, the estate manager and staff discovered the carcass in a nursery forest area.

Parts of the head and both tusks were missing and are believed to have been deliberately removed.

Preliminary examinations indicate the animal was a male Bornean elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis), approximately 2.9 metres tall with a footprint of about 1.45 metres.

The face and mouth bore L-shaped cuts consistent with sharp tools, and additional cut marks were observed on the head. No gunshot wounds were found on the portions of the body examined to date, but a full post‑mortem and further forensic tests are ongoing.

Heavy rainfall at the time hampered efforts to recover tracks and other scene evidence.

The exact cause of death remains undetermined. The SWD will conduct a post‑mortem and continue investigations.

The minister said that if inquiries confirm poaching, illegal ivory removal or other wildlife offences, those responsible must face the full weight of the law.

The minister emphasised the Bornean elephant’s importance as one of Sabah’s most iconic and protected species and called for strengthened enforcement, increased patrols, continued cooperation with the Royal Malaysia Police, and enhanced monitoring of wildlife corridors and high‑risk areas.

Jafry also thanked the SWD, Community Rangers, the Royal Malaysia Police and other personnel involved in the immediate response. Members of the public with information about the incident have been urged to come forward to assist the investigation.

“We cannot allow Sabah to become a ground for wildlife crime. Every loss of a protected species is a loss to our natural heritage and the future of Sabah’s biodiversity,” the minister said.