A six-month-old baby elephant has been found shot dead in a Cambodian forest, prompting outrage.
Tragic photographs of the dead baby elephant, taken in Koh Nhek district, Mondulkiri province, Cambodia. Show the calf lying lifeless on the ground, after villagers found it on 26th of January.
The baby elephant is believed to have been shot.
Minister of Information Neth Pheakra is quoted local media saying: “Sadly, a baby elephant was found dead and a gunshot wound to the left rib was found. It is not yet possible to conclude that the baby elephant killed by a bullet or arrow.”
Chhao Bunthoeun, the Director of the Department of Environment for Mondulkiri Province, said that an autopsy was being arranged to confirm the cause of death.
He said that the baby elephant is thought to have been no more than six months old.
Locals in Mondulkiri province have said that officials for the Mondulkiri Provincial Department of Environment in charge of wildlife sanctuaries are not doing their jobs and are unable to protect the species in their jurisdiction, according to local media.
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They also demanded that the authorities open an investigation, catch the culprits and put a stop to protected wildlife being killed.
There are only about 400 elephants living in the wild in Cambodia’s forests.
Approximately 250 of them live in Mondulkiri Province.
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Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
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