Sabah Probes Suspected Ivory Poaching After Mutilated Bornean Elephant Found In Tongod Forest Reserve

KUALA LUMPUR,MAY,2026 – Sabah authorities have launched an investigation into a suspected wildlife crime after a male Bornean elephant was found dead with parts of its head mutilated and tusks missing in a forest reserve in Tongod.

The carcass was discovered in a nursery forest area within the Sungai Pinangah Forest Reserve, raising concerns that the protected animal may have been killed or mutilated for ivory. New Straits Times reported that the elephant was found with its face mutilated and tusks missing in what authorities suspect could be a poaching-related incident.

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said he was deeply concerned over the discovery. He said a team comprising officers from the Sabah Wildlife Department, community rangers and police inspected the location after the Kinabatangan wildlife team received a complaint at about 8.25am on May 18 regarding the dead elephant.

According to Jafry, estate workers near the area had reportedly heard a loud sound similar to an explosion at about 5.30pm on May 17. However, heavy rain prevented an immediate inspection of the area. The following morning, an estate manager and workers discovered the carcass with parts of the elephant’s head and tusks missing.

Initial examination found that the male elephant measured about 2.9 metres in height, with a footprint size of around 1.45 metres. Investigators also found that the elephant’s face and mouth had been cut in an L-shaped pattern using sharp tools, while additional cut marks were detected on the head.

Daily Express reported that preliminary inspections by the Sabah Wildlife Department, police and community rangers found no gunshot wounds on the carcass. However, authorities said heavy rain at the scene made evidence collection more difficult, including the search for possible tracks or other physical clues.

Jafry said the exact cause of death has not yet been determined and a post-mortem examination is being carried out. He stressed that firm and uncompromising action will be taken if investigations confirm poaching, illegal ivory removal or any other wildlife crime.

The incident has raised fresh concern over threats faced by the Bornean elephant, also known as the Borneo pygmy elephant. The species is found mainly in Sabah and parts of northeastern Borneo and has long been threatened by habitat loss, forest fragmentation, human-elephant conflict and illegal hunting.

The IUCN reported in 2024 that Bornean elephants were officially classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with only about 1,000 individuals estimated to remain in the wild. The assessment also identified habitat loss, poaching, human conflict and development pressure as major threats to the species.

For conservationists, the discovery in Tongod is especially alarming because every loss affects an already small and vulnerable population. Bornean elephants require large, connected forest areas to move, feed and breed, but their habitats have increasingly been fragmented by agriculture, logging, plantations and infrastructure development.

WWF has also warned that Sabah has lost a large portion of its elephant habitat over the past several decades, with the species now facing pressure from shrinking forests and increasing contact with human-dominated landscapes.

The suspected removal of tusks has also placed attention back on the illegal ivory trade. Although the full circumstances of the elephant’s death are still under investigation, the missing tusks and mutilated head have led authorities to treat the case seriously as a possible wildlife crime.

Jafry said he has instructed the Sabah Wildlife Department to conduct a detailed investigation, strengthen enforcement, increase patrols and improve monitoring in wildlife movement corridors. These measures are aimed at preventing further incidents and ensuring that those responsible are identified.

The case also highlights the importance of cooperation between wildlife officers, police, estate operators and local communities. In remote forest reserve areas, early reporting from plantation workers, villagers and community rangers can be crucial in detecting wildlife crimes and preserving evidence before it is lost due to weather or terrain conditions.

If poaching is confirmed, the incident could become one of the more serious recent wildlife crime cases involving Bornean elephants in Sabah. Authorities are expected to examine all possible angles, including whether the elephant was killed before the tusks were removed or whether the carcass was mutilated after death.

For now, Sabah authorities are awaiting the results of the post-mortem and further investigation. The discovery has renewed calls for stronger wildlife protection, stricter enforcement and better monitoring of elephant habitats to prevent Sabah’s endangered elephants from becoming further victims of poaching and illegal ivory demand.