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| File pic) Sabah has welcomed the move by the police force to aid the state in protecting its wildlife, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal. (NSTP/AIZUDDIN SAAD)
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has welcomed the move by the police force to aid the state in protecting its wildlife, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
"Sabah government welcomes and appreciates the effort by police to assist us in controlling and ensuring the safety of elephants and other wildlife.
"Our workforce is limited, with the help from the Tiger Platoon which has their own expertise and capabilities, they can help (to tackle crime against animals)," he said.
Shafie said this after the launch of the Sabah Agriculture Plan (2021-2030).
Present was State Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Junz Wong.
On Monday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said the Tiger Platoon from the General Operations Force (PGA) in Sabah had been assigned to assist the relevant authorities in protecting the wildlife in the state.
The special platoon would be mobilised to conduct patrols, track down suspects as well as carry out joint raids with enforcement officials including the Wildlife Department and the Sabah Forestry Department.
The Sabah Wildlife Department had said that while they were doing their best to protect wildlife, the department only has 60 wildlife rangers distributed in 14 offices in the state’s sprawling 73,904 km² area.
As of last Sunday, Sabah recorded 21 elephant deaths this year due to activities by poachers or the pachyderms attacking each other.
Sabah government had also said that the rampant killing of elephants was also affecting the state's reputation as an eco-tourism location as well as undermining the price of palm oil.
In 2006, elephant population is estimated to be 2,040. A new study on the species will be undertaken in 2021.
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