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    23 January 2012| last updated at 12:04AM

    Baby elephant rescued

    By KRISTY INUS
    LAHAD DATU
    kristy@nst.com.my

    0 comments

    Sabah rescue unit monitoring animal

      AN abandoned male baby elephant, believed to be a few weeks old, was rescued by the Sabah Wildlife Department's Wildlife Rescue Unit at a plantation, about 40km from here, on Saturday.

      Calling it the "Chinese New Year miracle", the team said it was alerted by the plantation workers who found the baby elephant in a deep moat and unable to move.

      "Elephants are one of the best mothers in the animal kingdom.  They do not abandon their babies.

      The baby elephants are not only cared for by the mother but also by older siblings and other adult females in the herd," said unit head Dr Sen Nathan.

      "The baby elephant was found to be severely dehydrated and had cuts and abrasions on its body.

      "Veterinarian Dr Diana Ramirez and the rangers administered large amounts of  intravenous fluids and treated the wounds."   

      Dr Sen said although the baby elephant's condition had improved, "it is still not out of the woods yet".

      "It  would still require  constant care  to improve in health and survive.

      "A veterinarian and four staff  are providing the baby elephant with 24-hour intensive care.

     "If the baby elephant can survive for the next 72 hours, it has better  chances of pulling through."

     The population of Borneo Pygmy elephants in Sabah is dwindling fast, with only 2,000 left in the wild.

     Its habitat is affected by agricultural and human activities, hence an increase in cases of elephants being killed and orphan elephants rescued.

     The Wildlife Rescue Unit focuses on rescuing and translocating wildlife in Sabah. Last month, the team members assisted in the helicopter rescue of a rare female Sumatran rhinoceros here.

    Veterinarian Dr Diana Ramirez (right) and members of Sabah Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Rescue Unit feeding the rescued male baby elephant. Pic courtesy of Sabah Wildlife Department

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