BACK TO BASICS: Elephant gradually separated from ranger whom it has formed a bond
KOTA KINABALU: A BABY elephant that was found next to its dead mother five months ago is set to face another "heart-breaking" separation.
This time, however, it is for its own good.
The elephant, named Joe, is being gradually separated from its "adoptive mother", wildlife ranger Augustine David, at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park near here.
Joe is too attached and dependent on its caretaker, a situation that will not be good for its future survival.
Augustine, 39, had been tasked to look after Joe since it was ta-ken to the park after being discovered next to its mother, one of 14 elephants found dead in a span of three weeks from December last year to January in the Gunung Rara Forest Reserve in Tawau.
Sabah Wildlife Department director Datuk Dr Laurentius Ambu yesterday said they were now gradually assigning differ-ent caretakers for Joe despite facing resistance from the 180kg elephant.
He said Joe was healthy and had put on more than 70kg in the last five months since it was brought to the park.
"We have different concerns though. It refuses to obey other caretakers.
"This is not good for its survival.
"Therefore, we are slowly detaching the bond between the two," he said, adding that the department also planned to send Joe to the Kinabatangan Wildlife Rescue Centre, which would be operational in August.
The aim of the centre is to rehabilitate displaced and "orphaned" animals.
Laurentius said this after the launch of a new elephant holding area, costing RM36,000, donated by a non-profit organisation called SOS Elephant Foundation based in Italy.
Present was the foundation's founder, Dr Cathrin Schroder.
Joe will stay in the new holding area before it is sent to the centre.
Laurentius said the probe on the mysterious death of the elephants by the department and police were ongoing.
Rewards, totalling RM120,000, are being offered for the capture and conviction of those responsible.
He added that police were keeping a close watch on the case where investigators, including scientists from several countries, had yet to determine the cause of death.
The dead elephants and a photograph of Joe clinging on to its mother when it was discovered, had sparked international attention, especially among animal rights groups earlier this year.
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