2-year-old elephant 'Sahabat' has good prognosis for infected eyes

Queen Elizabeth Hospital eyes specialists (in blue gown) inspecting juvenile elephant "Sahabat" at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park. - Picture courtesy of Wildlife Rescue Unit

By Olivia Miwil - April 15, 2020 @ 12:16pm

KOTA KINABALU: A rescued young elephant from Lahad Datu is likely to have its infected eyes cured.

The 2-year-old little jumbo named “Sahabat” was transported to the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park near here, last week.

Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) assistant director Dr Sen Nathan said that two ophthalmologists from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital visited the park here yesterday to give her a quick check up.

“Prognosis is fair, there is a chance to cure the eyes… but not to full normal vision.

“The treatment advice from the ophthalmologists is to add anti-fungal eye drops to the current treatment regimen,” he said, adding that the next review and further treatment will be next month.

Dr Sen added that based on observation, there is no perforation and endophthalmitis on the irises, pupils and the anterior chambers. However, there is a 5mm ulceration on the cornea.

“SWD would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s Dr Sheena Alexander and her team for coming down and giving their expert advice on this case,” he said.

The female elephant was rescued by SWD early this month after it was alerted by a plantation manager that workers had spotted Sahabat wandering nearby.

“A team from the Wildlife Rescue Unit was dispatched immediately and succeeded in capturing the elephant.

“It was then that they discovered the elephant had bad infections in both its eyes, which may have affected her vision, causing her to wander from the herd.

"Sen added that in appreciation of Ladang Sahabat's quick actions to save the baby elephant, her caregivers have given her the name "Sahabat."