THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2001
Rare rhino brutally slain in Sabah
By Catherine Ong
The gunned down Sumatran rhino which was found decapitated for its horn, and one of its legs cut off, on March 10.KOTA KINABALU - A rare female Sumatran rhino was brutally shot dead in the Kalabakan forest, south of the Maliau Basin in Tawau, last month, invoking a flurry of protests from environmentalists, as well as Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat.
After the rhino was gunned down, the poachers, still at large yesterday, decapitated the head for its horn and even cut off one of the legs.
Seven pellets were found embedded in various parts of the rhino's body, suggesting that a shotgun was used to commit the offence, which carries a custodial sentence.
Tawau wildlife officer Jum Rafiah who found the headless carcass on the evening of March 10 after receiving a tip-off, asserted that the highly endangered rhino was deliberately killed for its horns.
"The killers did not shoot it in self-defence. We rushed to the site after receiving a call and were devastated to see the headless animal lying motionlessit must have died since morning," she recalled.
Jum said the sight of the dead rhino, believed to be about 12 years old, was hard to bear especially when its head was gone. According to her, the rhino must have been foraging for food when she was shot.
"We have interrogated some suspects and we believe that more than one person are involved in the killing of the rhino," she said.
Jum said they are investigating the case under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 and an offender is liable is liable to a mandatory jail sentence of not less than six months or not exceeding five years. State Wildlife Director Mahedi Andau when contacted said the incident was the second in 15 years.
"The killers were obviously going after the rhino's horns," he said. "We don't know yet who were responsible but we are investigating and the culprits will definitely be charged in court".
Mahedi also disclosed that there is another rhino near the area "and we are looking into whether it is necessary to move it somewhere else".
There are currently only about 100 rhinos left in the jungles of Sabah. Meanwhile, when contacted, Chong said the Wildlife Department is doing its best to trace those responsible for the killing of the female rhino.
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