KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Activists said they blame the Malaysian government for failing to protect the country's wildlife after 10 endangered Borneo pygmy elephants were found dead.
"We are confused by this and the failure of the governmental authorities to investigate and understand what has happened before this got out of control," animal campaigner Rohinna Gupta told Bikyanews.com. "We as a country must respect and protect our natural wildlife at all costs."
Bikyanews said many are speculating the elephants were poisoned, with the first elephant dying Dec. 29 and the most recent death occurring last Thursday.
All of the animals were found in an industrial tree plantation area in the south of Sabah, operated by a private company, Bikyanews said.
The government said their investigation has not uncovered the cause of the death, but animal activists said the chemicals used on the plantation are the likely culprits.
"We know that the companies working in Sabah don't take care of what they put on the ground and the elephants were likely poisoned due to this," Gupta said.
