TWO pygmy elephants, including a calf, at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park in Sabah have reportedly died. 

However, the Sabah Wildlife Department has yet to confirm the deaths of the animals.  

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew said earlier today that she planned to visit the park, some 20 minutes from Kota Kinabalu. 

“I will wait for a report from the Wildlife Department,” Liew said without commenting further. 

The Star Online had reported that an adolescent elephant rescued 13 years ago from a Lahad Datu plantation died two days ago while a 4-year-old calf died on May 7. 

Earlier this month, the park made headlines when Friends of the Orangutans Malaysia director  Upreshpal Singh raised concern over the condition of the captive animals there. 

Liew attempted to stem criticism by visiting the park on June 21. She then said the claims by the animal rights group was unfounded and that the captive animals appeared to be overfed instead. 

However, it later surfaced that the elephants paddocks at the park had been closed during the minister’s visit. Park officials later said the elephant areas were under maintenance. 

Park manager Rosa Sipangkui had said then that one of the elephants in captivity was sick and was refusing food. 

Seven elephants have reportedly died of unknown causes in April and May in different locations along Sabah’s east coast. 

Chief Minister Shafie Apdal had called on the Wildlife Department to investigate the cause of these deaths and take action to protect the elephants. 

Most of the animals at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park are rescued wildlife. – June 29, 2018.