An endangered pygmy elephant, believed to be between 20 and 30 years old, was found dead in Tawau, Sabah. But what was worse is the mutilated state of the pachyderm.
Not only was its corpse discovered tied to a tree on the river bank and floating half submerged, it had over 70 gunshot wounds and its tusks sawn off.
This inhumane attack is most likely the work of poachers, as reported by AFP.
Pygmy elephants are often poached for their tusks, and since agricultural plantations have gradually disrupted their jungle habitat, this species continues to reduce in number.
In an operation carried out by the Sabah Wildlife Department, officials said that this was some of the worst injuries they had witnessed.
The department's director Augustine Tuuga said it is believed that the poachers were locals because it did not look like a professional operation.
The Star also cited an anonymous source saying that the poachers may have attacked the elephant from a close range using semi-automatic guns.
There needs to be justice for the animals since this is not the first time an incident like that is happening.
In fact, pygmy elephants are protected under Malaysian law and those who are found guilty of hunting them will face a fine and/or jail term.
Hence why the Sabah Wildlife Department is offering a RM30,000 reward to those with information on the poachers.
The officials have also requested help from the police to investigate and assist in cracking down on the culprit.
In Borneo, there are currently only around 1,500 pygmy elephants still surviving in the wild.
So let's not be the worst species on Earth and start doing something to help Mother Nature.