High metals found in dead elephants – Masidi

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A HIGH level of arsenic, cadmium, iron and chromium was found in the liver of two of the 14 elephants that were found dead in Gunung Rara forest reserve, Tawau district, end of December last year and in January this year, according to Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

White powder substance found near the body of one of the dead elephants also contained the same ingredients, said Masidi in his winding-up speech at the State Assembly sitting yesterday when replying to a question from Kapayan assemblyman Dr Edwin Bosi.

The findings were made in the toxicology test conducted by the Queensland Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Australia, he said.

“The combination of these heavy metals can usually be found near mines, near foundries, landfills and where toxic wastes were common,” he explained.

“But it is not rational (to find it at Gunung Rara) because no such activities were taking place there, near the FMU 23. This supports our theory that the toxic substances were deliberately placed near the feeding ground of the elephants with the intention to hurt them,” he said.

He said the authorities were still trying to track down the culprits behind the killing of the elephants.