Elephants likely shot: NGO

31 October 2013
The Phnom Penh Post
Environment and natural resources / Environmental and biodiversity protection / National parks and wildlife sanctuaries / Protected areas / Protected forest
Asnarith Tep / Elephants Livelihood Initiative Environment / Jack Highwood / Micah Ingalls / Ministry of Environment / Nick Marx / Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary / Wildlife Alliance / World Wildlfie Fund / WWF

A group of endangered Asian elephants found dead in Mondulkiri province on Sunday were likely slaughtered, investigators from conservation group WWF-Cambodia have found.

The organisation said in a statement yesterday an investigation into the deaths in protected Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary suggested the elephants were “slaughtered by well-organised poachers”.

An examination of the remains indicated the two adult female elephants were shot in the head three months ago and died together in the same spot, while the cause of the calf’s death remains unknown, the statement adds.

Nick Marx, director of conservation group Wildlife Alliance’s wildlife rescue and care program, reiterated yesterday that the elephants’ death probably had nothing to with ivory because female Asian elephants do not have tusks. …

Jack Highwood, head of Mondulkiri-based NGO Elephants Livelihood Initiative Environment, said the incident was devastating but unsurprising. …

 Phak Seangly and Amelia Woodside
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/elephants-likely-shot-ngo