KOTA KINABALU, Dec 30 — There is no isolation facility in Sabah currently to place dangerous elephants for the animal to roam freely, said State Wildlife Department (Wildlife) director Augustine Tuuga.
He said there were currently too many elephants in captivity in Sabah and the existing facilities were now cramped.
On the elephant that caused the death of a Lok Kawi Wildlife Park worker here last Sunday (December 25), he said the pachyderm had been placed in an isolation area.
However, he expressed the hope that the move was only temporary because the movement of the animal, which usually has to be chained, was restricted.
“We prefer the elephants to have freedom of movement by placing them in facilities where they can move around freely,” he said when contacted today.
He suggested an alternative which is to send the dangerous elephants to countries that have adequate facilities where the animals can move freely without being confined in a cramped place or be chained.
“Elephant welfare is the most important aspect of management for elephants in captivity,” he added.
— Bernama
