A full investigation will be conducted into the brutal killing of a decapitated Borneo pygmy elephant found along Kalabakan Road in Tawau, said Sabah’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Seri Christina Liew.

Expressing outrage over the gruesome discovery, Liew condemned the act as inhumane and vowed to pursue justice.

“I have instructed the Sabah Wildlife Department (JHL) Director to conduct a full-fledged investigation into this incident,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.

She added that evidence is being gathered and that those responsible will be charged under the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.

“This is a heinous act by unscrupulous individuals. Once the investigation is complete, we will not hesitate to prosecute the perpetrator,” she said.

Liew lamented that such incidents continue to threaten conservation efforts aimed at protecting Sabah’s dwindling elephant population.

“It is regrettable that, while the Wildlife Department works tirelessly to conserve these endangered animals, there are still heartless individuals undermining these efforts,” she said.

The Borneo pygmy elephant, a critically endangered species, is native to Sabah and faces numerous threats, including habitat loss and poaching. – January 21, 2025.