Malaysians Are Outraged After An Elephant Was Killed For Attacking A Man In Sabah
It's like Harambe all over again.
By Samantha Khor — 22 Nov 2016, 01:06 PM
A bull elephant who trampled a man to death last week has been shot and killed by Sabah Wildlife Department rangers, sparking outrage among Malaysians on social media
On 19 November, oil palm plantation worker and Indonesian national Ciin Bedu was attacked and trampled to death by the wild elephant around 3pm in Dumpas plantation area in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
The elephant was shot dead by rangers the next day.
Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustine Tuug said that they "did not want to take any chances" with the bull, as it had killed a human and there were high chances that the elephant might attack again
“We have confirmed that the bull elephant was on musth, musth is a periodic state of heightened sexual activity and aggression in adult male elephants caused by a marked increase of the hormone testosterone in the body, resulting in the very violent behaviour of this bull elephant,” Tuuga said in a statement.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun stressed that the decision to cull the bull elephant was a difficult one and it was done with "great reluctance, but human lives are paramount".
In light of the news, Malaysians are appalled at the Sabah Wildlife Department's decision to cull the elephant, criticising them for choosing the "easy way out" and prioritising human lives over animals'
Some pointed out that the department should have figured out an alternative solution, such as tranquilising and sequestering the elephant until the musth period passes
One open letter addressed to the Sabah Wildlife Department in particular has received widespread support from netizens, with some suggesting that it should be formally sent to the department
