Kota Kinabalu: A rescued baby elephant injured after it got caught in a snare in Lahad Datu died Tuesday afternoon, said the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Jafry Ariffin.
Although the female elephant’s right front leg was amputated to prevent the leg tissue from becoming worse, its other organs failed.
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Jafry Ariffin, said the baby elephant, less than two years old, was given the “best treatment” after the amputation surgery on Monday.
"After the surgery, the baby elephant has also shown very good development. It looked healthy and even ate and drank like a normal healthy elephant,” Jafry said in a statement today.
"However, the next day (Tuesday), the baby elephant looked quite weak and depressed. Treatment and medication were done and the baby elephant responded well.
"However, in the afternoon, the baby elephant collapsed. It tried to get up but collapsed again for a while and at about 6.15pm, the baby elephant stopped breathing and the treating veterinarian confirmed its death.”