Electrocution of elephant should not be taken lightly

SAHABAT Alam Malaysia (SAM) is astounded at the death of yet another wild elephant in Gerik, Perak. The incident occurred on Jan 3 when a 40-year-old female elephant was electrocuted by a live wire at a construction site.
The herd of elephants come into populated areas foraging for food. These pachyderms have lost their natural habitat due to extensive and uncontrolled land clearance leading to increasingly fragmented habitats. According to an elephant expert, suitable habitat is lost when roads are built across grasslands.
SAM, NGOs, and members of the community have expressed concern on several occasions over the number of road-kill deaths of elephants and other endangered species, but it appears that the Malaysian Highway authorities have not considered addressing the many letters published in the media. Even letters from SAM to the highway authorities have gone unanswered.
Malaysian elephants are exposed to dangers on many fronts: poachers, speeding vehicles, poisoning, and armed plantation workers. The future of our elephants is bleak.
The electrocution of this lactating female elephant brings to mind a similar incident in Sabah where seven endangered pygmy elephants died in an abandoned quarry pond last year. It is irresponsible to leave work projects that are a hazard to both humans and animals.
Which government body, department, or agency is responsible for putting up the cabin and later abandoning on completion of its project without disconnecting its electricity supply? Who will be held responsible for this unsafe work site? What if a human had gone into the cabin and accidentally stepped on the live wire?
The loss of one elephant is a number less and what about its baby? It may follow the herd but what are its chances of survival without its mother?
This cause of death should be clearly investigated and not taken lightly by the Wildlife Department. Such irresponsible action of the parties involved should not be condoned.
Given this situation and neglect of safety protocol, SAM urges the Wildlife Department to investigate the unfortunate incident and publish its findings as soon as possible.

S. M. Mohamed Idris
President
Sahabat Alam Malaysia