KUALA LUMPUR — Three elephants were found dead in Johor on Tuesday (June 4), and initial findings from a post-mortem indicate they may have been poisoned.

The elephant carcasses were discovered in a village in the landlocked district of Kluang, close to the town of Yong Peng. Villagers stumbled upon the elephants – estimated to be between 18 and 22-years old – lying motionless at about 9.30am, according to Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama.

Malaysia’s Water, Land and National Resources Minister, Dr Xavier Jayakumar also told Bernama that there may be criminal elements as investigations uncovered that the private electric fencing put up by villagers was not functioning.

The elephants, which are believed to be from a breakaway group at the Lenggor Forest Reserve in Johor, could have intruded into the village, he noted.

The type of poison is not yet known, as samples of the elephants’ liver and kidney have to be sent for toxicology analysis, and the results will only be known in three months, Dr Xavier said.

As a precautionary measure, Dr Xavier said the country’s Wildlife and National Parks Department would be working with the Malaysian Palm Oil Council to make it compulsory to install electric fencing in oil palm plantations near the forest reserve.

It will also act to prevent wild elephants from damaging plantations and the village areas, he said. AGENCIES